St Matthew’s Catholic Primary School, Jarrow

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key Findings

St. Matthew's is an outstanding school with an exceptionally positive ethos, strongly rooted in Christian values. Pupils make rapid progress in response to the vision and drive of a highly-committed headteacher and staff.

Achievement is outstanding because pupils make excellent progress as they move through the school. When they join the Reception class, their skills and abilities are well below those normally expected for their ages yet, by the time they leave Year 6, their attainment in English and mathematics is above average. By Year 6, several pupils reach very high standards, especially in reading and mathematics.

Pupils benefit from teaching which is always at least good and frequently ...outstanding. Excellent tracking systems show whether they are progressing quickly enough to meet the school's very challenging targets. It also identifies those who are struggling or who need expert help to overcome barriers to learning.

Marking of work is of a high standard, but there are occasions when teachers do not provide planned opportunities so that pupils can follow up the advice they have been given by making corrections to their work. Behaviour is outstanding. Pupils enjoy their education and respond exceptionallywell to the school's very high expectations of them.

Whether they are in class, in assembly, moving around the school or socialising at breaks and lunchtimes, their conduct is first rate. They respond extremely positively to the very wide range of opportunities that the school provides. Leadership and management of high quality at all levels have provided an excellent curriculum which underpins pupils' exceptional academic progress and their outstanding spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Self-evaluation is accurate and leads to excellent development planning which has a high profile in the daily operation of the school. It strongly and very effectively focuses on the quality of teaching and the promotion of the high achievement. Arrangements for the performance management of staff are excellent.

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Information about the school

St. Matthew's is an average sized primary school.

Pupils are mostly of White British heritage. Very few are from minority ethnic groups. The proportion of pupils supported by school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is average.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is below average. The school meets the current floor standards which set the government's minimum expectations for attainment and progress. There have been several changes at senior staff level over the last two years.

Inspection grades: 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory and 4 is inadequate Please turn to the glossary for a description of the grades and inspection terms