St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, Hawkshaw

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

There is a real togetherness that runs through St Mary's Church of England Primary School.

The school's vision and values of love, joy, hope, friendship, trust and faith underpin much of the work that takes place. Staff have an unwavering commitment to ensure that all pupils, of all backgrounds, succeed both socially and academically.

The school sets high expectations for pupils' achievement, including for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

However, the quality of some of the curriculum in the early years is variable. Pupils respond positively to their work and most achieve well in a range of subjects. Pupils are respectful, well...-mannered, polite and courteous.

They behave well in lessons and around school.

Pupils and their parents highly recommend this school. Pupils receive high-quality care which makes them feel very secure.

They benefit from the fact that adults know them very well. If pupils have any worries, there are many adults who they go to for support. Pupils are extremely positive about their experiences at the school.

Pupils appreciate the many opportunities that the school provides for them. These include the talent show and a variety of responsible roles that they take up. These experiences help pupils to develop their talents and interests.

Pupils enjoy the school's well-considered trips that enrich the curriculum, such as visits to museums and the local theatre.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school prioritises the teaching of reading. High-quality texts are central to the school's curriculum.

Inviting book areas are stocked with a diverse range of texts. Pupils spoke enthusiastically about their favourite books and authors. Staff follow the phonics programme consistently well.

Pupils read from books that match their current phonics knowledge, which helps them to develop into confident readers. Most pupils learn to read well and fluently. However, some pupils who struggle to read do not receive the support that they need to build their phonics knowledge.

This hinders them from becoming fluent readers.

The curriculum is broad and ambitious. In most subjects, the school has identified the important knowledge and skills that it wants pupils to learn and by when.

However, in a few subjects, the order in which pupils learn key information is at an earlier stage of development. This means that pupils cannot always see how their learning builds and connects over time. In these subjects, pupils do not achieve as well as they could.

The school takes positive action to support pupils' emotional and mental health as a way to enhance their behaviour. Pupils feel that staff support them well. They listen and respond appropriately to staff's guidance and instructions.

Low-level disruptions to lessons are rare and short-lived. Pupils can concentrate on their learning. Leaders have designed a well-structured personal, social, relationships, health and economic education programme.

Pupils know what healthy relationships are. They understand how to keep themselves safe, including when online.The school has designed an impressive programme to develop pupils' character.

Pupils proudly explained how they carry out their roles of responsibility, including acting as 'planet protectors' and school councillors. The school places importance on teaching pupils' economic awareness through real-life scenarios and pupils actively raise money for a school in Nepal. Pupils enjoy an array of clubs, such as choir and art clubs.

These are carefully tailored to meet pupils' needs. These opportunities have a positive impact on pupils' aspirations and prepare them well for life in modern Britain.

The school is calm and orderly.

Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school. Pupils really value the school's rules and rewards. Highly effective systems are in place to ensure that pupils continue to attend school regularly and on time.

Children enjoy and benefit from learning key concepts in early years. However, the school's early years curriculum does not clearly define the knowledge that staff will teach or how they will monitor children's understanding. Therefore, some activities provided do not support children's learning effectively.

As a result, some children miss out on acquiring the knowledge they need to be ready for key stage 1.

Governors provide effective support and challenge to the school. Leaders undertake their role with integrity.

Staff work in shared ways and morale is good. Staff said that the school is mindful of their workload and that it supports staff well-being.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The school has not ensured that some staff have received the necessary training to deliver effective support for pupils who are still learning to read. This hinders the progress that some pupils make when learning to read. The school should ensure that staff have the phonics training they need so that they can support all pupils in developing their ability to read fluently.

• The school has not established the essential knowledge and vocabulary that it expects pupils to know in some subjects. This means that pupils do not have secure knowledge on which to build as they progress through the school's curriculum. The school should ensure that the content of its subject curriculums is consistently well ordered and that the key knowledge is clearly identified and taught.

• The curriculum in early years does not clearly identify the precise knowledge and skills children require. This means that the school does not build on children's prior knowledge over time effectively, and the activities provided do not always align well with their learning needs or support progression. The school should identify the important knowledge it wants children to learn in the early years and ensure it is planned and delivered in a clear, logical order.