St Mary’s Roman Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. All leaders, staff and governors work successfully in a highly cohesive way to ensure that pupils' achievement, behaviour and the quality of teaching continue to be outstanding.

Pupils make exceptional progress in all subjects right from the time they join the school. As a result, standards in reading, writing and mathematics are above average by the time they leave at the end of Year 6. The early years provision is outstanding.

Children are happy and get an excellent start in the Nursery and Reception classes. Behaviour is exemplary. Pupils have a real thirst for learning and a strong desire to do well.

They love coming... to school. This is reflected in their above average attendance. Pupils say they feel very safe.

They have a deep understanding of how to keep themselves safe beyond the school environment. The school's work to promote pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is highly effective. They learn about a range of cultures and religions and show high levels of respect.

Teaching is outstanding. All teachers and teaching assistants know all their pupils exceptionally well. Pupils say they make learning fun.

Pupils benefit from an exciting and interesting range of subjects and activities. This supports their outstanding achievement. The governing body knows the school exceedingly well.

Its actions have been highly successful in maintaining the outstanding quality of this school.

Information about this school

This is a larger than average-sized school. At the time of the inspection, the deputy headteacher was on secondment.

There were three acting assistant headteachers. The early years provision consists of a part–time morning and afternoon Nursery and two full-time Reception classes. The school is a member of the Lambeth Catholic Schools Partnership, a local network of schools.

The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is well above average. The proportion of pupils who have English as an additional language is above average. The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium (additional funding to support those eligible for free school meals and children looked after by the local authority) is broadly average.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is below averge. The school meets the government's floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics. The school has achieved the following awards: Investors in People 2014, The Basic Skills Quality Mark 2014 and The Lambeth Healthy Schools Award 2013.