St Mary’s Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The school's values of 'love, respect, creativity, forgiveness and perseverance' are at the centre of everything it does. Everyone is welcome, irrespective of any differences.

Pupils live up to the school's high expectations of their behaviour. They show deep respect for other pupils and for staff. Pupils feel confident that staff will deal with any issues quickly and fairly.

They learn and play well together, happy to take part in group games and activities.

The school has high ambition for the achievement of pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils try hard to meet these aspirations.

They show a love... of learning and they are eager to share their work with others. Most pupils learn well.

Pupils feel that they can truly make a difference to school life.

They take any additional responsibilities, such as being an eco-councillor, school councillor or playleader, very seriously. They carry out their own research to ensure that they are knowledgeable, ready to fulfil their duties and equipped to share their expertise with others. Pupils are proud of their achievements such as securing new equipment for the playground.

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

The school has developed a new and ambitious curriculum in recent times. Typically, it has identified the important content that pupils should learn. This has been carefully ordered to ensure that pupils can build their knowledge from the early years to the end of Year 6.

In the main, the school has ensured that teachers have the professional development that they need to support them to deliver the curriculum effectively and with confidence. Teachers usually present information clearly and precisely, in a way that engages pupils. As a result, pupils love to learn.

In most subjects, pupils progress well through the curriculum. They readily link new learning to their prior knowledge. However, in a few subjects, the school has only recently finalised its thinking about what pupils should know.

In these subjects, pupils' knowledge of earlier learning is not as secure as it could be. Some pupils have gaps in their knowledge from the previous curriculum. This hinders these pupils when staff introduce new concepts.

The school has implemented strategies to help teachers to check how well pupils are learning the new curriculum. In some subjects, this is in its infancy. This makes it harder for teachers to address pupils' misconceptions when they arise, or fill the gaps in pupils' knowledge from the previous curriculum.

The school has improved its approaches to identifying the additional needs of pupils with SEND. It now uses a range of information to ensure that pupils receive the help that they need swiftly. Teachers successfully adapt their delivery of the curriculum for pupils with SEND so that they can learn well.

From the time children enter the Reception class, they begin to learn phonics. Pupils, including those in the early years, are given books to practise reading that are carefully matched to the sounds that they know. In the past, the school's systems to identify and support those pupils who struggle with reading have not been effective enough.

This is reflected in the published outcomes for 2024. However, the school has ensured that staff are now well trained to help those pupils in most need of reading support. Staff quickly identify pupils who are struggling and step in to help them.

As a result, more pupils are now developing into confident and fluent readers.

From the early years, pupils are eager to learn. They behave well in lessons.

The school celebrates pupils' high attendance. The school carefully analyses pupils' absence and takes swift action if a pupil's attendance begins to fall. The school works closely with parents and carers to ensure that all pupils attend school on time and as regularly as they should.

Pupils have opportunities to explore their own views and beliefs. They understand the importance of respecting others. Pupils learn about different faiths and cultures and they deepen their knowledge of these through their multi-faith weeks.

They are taught about fundamental British values, such as democracy and tolerance of others. Pupils are clear what these values mean to them.

Staff said that the school cares about their well-being.

They value the support that they receive to carry out their roles effectively. Staff are proud to work at the school.

Governors are committed to supporting the work that the school does.

However, in some aspects of their work, they have not provided effective enough challenge over time. As a result of this lack of challenge, the school's evaluation of some aspects of its provision, including the curriculum, is not as robust as it could be.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some subjects, pupils have gaps in knowledge from the previous curriculum. This means that some pupils do not have a secure enough knowledge base to help them learn new content. The school should ensure that, in these subjects, teachers are clear about the essential knowledge that pupils should learn before introducing new material.

• Sometimes, the checks that teachers complete on what pupils know and remember are not refined enough. This hinders staff from determining whether pupils have fully secured knowledge, or if gaps remain. The school should ensure that teachers have the expertise to check robustly how well pupils have learned the important information that they have been taught.

• Governors have not routinely challenged the school about some aspects of its work, including the effectiveness of the curriculum. This has hampered the school from rigorously evaluating the quality of education that it provides. The school should ensure that governors have the knowledge that they need to hold leaders to account effectively.