St Paul’s CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Achievement is good and improving.

By the end of Year 6 the majority of pupils achieve standards which are higher than those found nationally. The school has worked hard to ensure that all pupils succeed in their learning, and has been effective in raising levels of attainment for pupils entitled to support through pupil-premium funding, and for all pupils in mathematics. Teaching and learning are consistently good.

Teachers have high expectations of pupils with whom they have exemplary relationships. The majority of lessons are well planned and with work set at the right level for pupils' different abilities in mixed-age classes. Behavi...our is outstanding, and pupils say that they feel safe in school.

The school is fully inclusive and its motto, 'caring about learning, learning about caring', daily guides all pupils in their learning. Senior leaders, all staff and governors are dedicated and committed to raising attainment and providing the best for pupils. The headteacher has led the school well under very difficult circumstances.

The school's parent forum is a strength, with members proving a very effective link between the school, parents and the community. Governors are experienced and knowledgeable and can say exactly what the school needs to do to improve the quality of teaching. It is not yet an outstanding school because : The quality of teaching and the achievement of pupils are not yet outstanding.

Not all pupils have a full understanding of how well they are doing or what they need to do in order to further improve their learning. Too few opportunities are provided for pupils to work independently, particularly in mathematics, and find things out for themselves. The school is still in the process of implementing the most effective balance between the core subjects of English and mathematics and its strong Christian ethos.

Information about this school

This is a larger than average sized primary school. The proportion of pupils supported through school action is below average. The proportion of pupils supported at school action plus, or with a statement of special educational needs is above average.

The proportion of pupils for whom the school receives additional funding through the pupil premium is just above average. The pupil premium is additional funding for those pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals, children from service families and those children that are looked after by the local authority The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic groups is more than twice the national average. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is twice the national average.

The proportion of pupils joining or leaving the school is high. A significant proportion of pupils leave and take up places at local grammar schools during Key Stage 2, while at the same time additional pupils join. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

Since the last inspection, the school has experienced significant upheaval, including the serious illness of a longstanding senior assistant headteacher who died before taking up the position of headteacher at St Paul's. The current headteacher initially took up her post in an acting capacity and was appointed as substantive headteacher in 2012. The school runs a breakfast club.

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