St Mary’s Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils understand the school's vision to 'be the best you can be'. It is a golden thread that runs throughout the school.

Pupils demonstrate this in their daily interactions with each other and with staff. Staff know the pupils well. As soon as children join the Nursery, they form positive relationships with staff.

Pupils feel happy, safe and cared for. They are considerate of one another. They respond well to the school's high expectations for their behaviour.

The school is ambitious for what pupils can achieve. Pupils rise to these expectations and achieve well. Supported by the trust, the school is improving teaching effectively in mathematics.

Th...e school's programme for personal development is exceptional. Pupils' character development is at the core of this offer. Pupils learn about the importance of equality.

They celebrate difference and play an integral role in developing and demonstrating the school's 'heart' values.

The school is determined to identify each pupil's individual gift and talent. The wide variety of enrichment opportunities harness this.

Pupils' visit to the Houses of Parliament supports their understanding of democracy. Pupils' visit to a former prison enhanced their learning about crime and punishment.

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

The school ensures that pupils get off to a strong start with their education.

This begins in Nursery where staff quickly identify any children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school works closely with families to ensure that pupils with SEND receive the support they need to achieve well.

Reading is at the core of the school's curriculum.

The school has identified the stories it wants pupils to enjoy from Nursery to Year 6. Communication and language is a priority in the early years. Staff model the pronunciation of the ambitious vocabulary they want children to learn.

As soon as children join Reception, they begin learning to recognise letters and sounds. Staff are experts in the delivery of the reading programme. They quickly identify pupils at risk of falling behind.

These pupils receive the help they need to catch up. Pupils in the early stages of reading read books that match the sounds they know. This supports them to develop fluency and confidence.

Older pupils talk enthusiastically about their favourite authors. They enjoy reading books about inspirational people who influence and shape our world today.

An ambitious and well-structured curriculum is in place.

This sets out what pupils should learn from Nursery to Year 6. With support from the trust, the school ensures that staff are trained to deliver the curriculum well. The school has particularly focused on strengthening the delivery of the mathematics curriculum.

This work is proving effective. Pupils build knowledge securely as they progress through the school. For example, children in Nursery learn to count by singing number songs.

Older pupils apply this knowledge to more complex operations, such as dividing and multiplying fractions. Similarly, in some wider curriculum subjects, pupils remember their current learning well. However, some pupils struggle to remember what they have learned over longer periods of time and have gaps in their knowledge.

Teachers do not systematically check that pupils remember what they have learned previously. On some occasions, the activities that some teachers select do not enable pupils to learn the important knowledge identified in the curriculum. This prevents pupils from building a depth of knowledge in some curriculum subjects.

Classrooms are calm and purposeful. Pupils are keen to share their ideas and contribute to class discussions. Children in the early years follow the school's routines and expectations.

For example, during a lesson outdoors, children in Nursery understood the importance of the 'safety circle', and children in Reception follow the rules when choosing which area of the classroom they want to learn in. The playground is a busy and active environment. Year 6 buddies enjoy helping the younger children during social times.

Pupils enjoy school. The school takes effective action to ensure that pupils attend regularly. This has improved attendance overall.

Where pupils need more support to improve their attendance, the school liaises with families to ensure that they are supported well.

The school's personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum teaches pupils about the importance of consent and healthy relationships. Pupils are exceptionally proud of the leadership roles they hold, including worship warriors, class captains and school council.

Opportunities for pupils to sing in the abbey for royalty, dance and perform in a public forum and represent the school in local sporting events are carefully considered by the school. This broadens pupils' horizons beyond the school community.

Governors and trustees share leaders' ambition for all pupils to benefit from a high-quality education and provide an effective balance of challenge and support.

Staff appreciate the professional development the trust provides.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a few wider curriculum subjects, some teaching does not support pupils to remember long term what they have been taught.

Teachers do not systematically check that pupils have learned the curriculum over time. As a result, there are some gaps in pupil's knowledge. The trust should ensure that teaching supports pupils to secure knowledge in their long-term memory and then check they have remembered it.

At times, the work given to some pupils does not support them to learn the intended curriculum. As a result, some pupils do not secure the knowledge they need or develop a sufficient depth of understanding. The trust should ensure that staff are supported to design learning activities that enable pupils to learn the curriculum successfully.