St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The school provides exceptional levels of care to its pupils.

Pupils are treated with warmth and kindness. They are greeted each morning by friendly smiles from their teachers. Pupils love their school and are proud to be a member of the 'St Patrick's family'.

Pupils are happy and safe and thrive in this nurturing environment.

Pupils embody the school's high expectations for behaviour. They have excellent attitudes to their learning.

Pupils get along with each other incredibly well. They play nicely together during social times and rarely fall out. The school acts quickly to immediately address any bullying concerns that pupils might have.

T...he school is ambitious for what pupils should learn. In subjects such as reading, writing and mathematics, pupils typically achieve well by the time that they leave the school. This includes those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Pupils consistently benefit from the range of additional opportunities available to them. Clubs are plentiful and well attended. Pupils experience well-thought-out trips that bring their learning to life.

Pupils were particularly excited to tell inspectors about their recent musical performances, including one linked to an international televised song contest. They regularly engage in charitable work to support their chosen causes.

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

The school has designed a broad and ambitious curriculum that makes effective use of the local area.

The school has clearly outlined its expectations of what pupils need to learn by the end of each year. In many areas of the curriculum, the school has also identified the specific knowledge that pupils need to build so that they can reach these expectations. This curriculum guidance helps teachers to deliver new content effectively in these subjects.

In turn, pupils typically achieve well in many aspects of their learning. That said, in a minority of curriculum areas, pupils only develop a superficial knowledge of fundamental concepts. This is because, in these subjects, the school sometimes does not provide pupils with learning activities that deepen their understanding of such concepts over time.

The school is adept at identifying pupils with SEND. Staff quickly assess the needs of children when they join in the early years. The school acts swiftly to provide any additional support that pupils with SEND might require.

As a result, these pupils are able to access the same ambitious curriculum as their classmates. They achieve well.

The school fosters an enjoyment of reading in pupils.

Pupils read frequently. They confidently discuss the modern fiction that teachers have read to them. The school prioritises the teaching of early reading.

Children begin to learn phonics as soon as they start school in the Reception Year. Staff are well trained in delivering the phonics curriculum. Consequently, this curriculum is delivered consistently well across the school.

Pupils who need extra help to learn phonics receive effective support on a regular basis. As a result of the school's actions, most pupils quickly learn to read with fluency.

Pupils are exceptionally polite and courteous.

They conduct themselves impeccably well in lessons and around the school. They are highly considerate of each other's right to a calm environment, which means that disruptions to the school day are very rare.

Pupils have their personal development catered for in a variety of ways.

They are well prepared for life in modern Britain. For example, they develop a secure understanding of fundamental British values. They epitomise mutual respect and tolerance.

Pupils are regularly taught how to discuss important issues through focused debate lessons. The school regularly arranges different events for pupils and their families to share in each other's heritage and customs. The 'cultural food festival' is especially popular.

As a result of such events, the school is an environment in which the whole community feels welcome. Pupils know how to live an active and healthy lifestyle. They spoke to inspectors with passion and empathy about the importance of mental well-being.

Pupils seek out opportunities to help each other wherever they can. They learn how to develop safe and healthy relationships.

Governors play an active role in the life of the school.

They carry out their statutory duties effectively. The school is considerate of teachers' well-being. It takes action to ensure that staff can effectively manage their workload, such as with the recent changes to the marking policy.

Staff are appreciative of these actions and their morale is high. They are proud to work at St Patrick's.

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 minority of subjects, pupils undertake learning activities that do not help them to develop their knowledge of some fundamental concepts. This means that pupils' knowledge is not as strong as it could be in some curriculum areas. The school should provide more robust curriculum guidance in these subjects to help teachers design activities that help pupils to build a rich body of knowledge over time.