St Matthew’s CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Pupils achieve well. They make good progress from their starting points to reach standards that are above average in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6.

The overall quality of teaching is good. As a result, all groups make good progress, including disabled pupils, those with special educational needs and those for whom the school receives the pupil premium. Teachers check pupils' understanding carefully.

They plan work carefully and use questioning to extend pupils' learning. Governors play an integral role in supporting leaders to continually improve the quality of the school's work. This has ensured that the quality ...of teaching has gone from strength to strength.

Pupils are exceptionally courteous and respectful because the school places a great emphasis on thinking about how you would like to be treated and how to treat others. Pupils say they love school and this is reflected in their above average rates of attendance. They have very positive attitudes to learning.

The school promotes pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development exceptionally well. Pupils are well prepared to move on to secondary school. Since the previous inspection the school has developed the range of subjects and activities on offer to pupils.

This plays a huge role in driving pupils' progress because it affords them opportunities to deepen their understanding by making real, purposeful links across subjects. It is not yet an outstanding school because: There is not enough outstanding teaching to ensure that pupils make rapid and sustained progress across all year groups. Marking does not always give pupils precise enough detail on the next steps they need to take to move their learning on and to make rapid progress.

Pupils do not always have opportunities to respond to comments teachers make when marking their books. Clear expectations are not always set for how much work pupils must complete and in what time span, which limits progress for some.

Information about this school

This is a slightly smaller than average-sized primary school.

The proportion of disabled pupils or those with special educational needs supported through school action is nearly half the national average. The proportion supported through school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is above the national average. The proportion of pupils for whom the school receives the pupil premium (additional funding for children looked after by the local authority, those eligible for free school meals and those with a parent or carer in the armed services) is much lower than average.

Currently, at this school, it only applies to pupils who are eligible for free school meals. Over a third of pupils are from minority ethnic backgrounds, higher than the national figure, with 13 different ethnic groups represented in varying proportions. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is similar to that found nationally.

A very small number are at the early stages of learning English. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. The school has achieved the Gold Standard School Sport Mark.

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