St Peter’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This is an exceptional school where supportive and caring relationships allow pupils to thrive.

The school has created a culture that includes everyone. A typical comment from pupils was 'People from all different races and beliefs come to our school because they know our school is just the place to be.'

Pupils, including children in the early years, flourish academically and socially.

The school has established an extremely well-designed curriculum. The careful and precise implementation of the curriculum enables pupils to acquire deep knowledge of the subjects they study.

Pupils know that their learning really matters.

The school has extr...emely high expectations of what pupils can and should achieve. The school's 'Bee attitudes' inspire staff and pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to reach the highest standards of learning and behaviour. This is reflected in the enthusiastic and detailed way pupils discuss and share what they have learned.

Pupils across the school achieve remarkably well.

Pupils benefit from impressive and wide-ranging experiences that enrich their personal development. They take great pride in their many responsibilities, for example as members of the eco-, learning or school councils.

A rich variety of visits and after-school activities enhance pupils' learning across the curriculum.

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

The school has developed a clear and strategic vision linked to its values. It has an extensive overview of the impact the subject curriculums have on pupils' achievements.

Governors are skilled and know the school well. They work closely with the school and provide effective support and challenge to ensure that learning and pupils' work is consistently high quality.

The school has built an ambitious curriculum from the early years to Year 6.

Staff use their strong subject knowledge well to enable pupils to secure and recall their learning successfully. For example, the routine revisiting of prior learning helps pupils build an in-depth understanding of new concepts. This helps them to make links across and within subjects.

Staff skilfully check pupils' knowledge and understanding before they introduce new content. Any misconceptions are addressed swiftly and effectively.

The school builds highly positive and harmonious relationships with parents and carers from the start of the children's learning journey.

In the early years, the curriculum carefully sets out the knowledge and vocabulary children should learn. This helps children get off to a flying start and prepares them exceptionally well for the demands of key stage 1.

Learning to read is a priority.

Pupils develop their love of reading from the beginning of their time in the Reception class. Staff deliver the well-ordered phonics programme effectively. They make sure that children in the early years, and pupils in key stage 1, read from books that include the sounds they have already learned.

The school has effective strategies in place to identify and support those pupils who find learning phonics difficult. As a result, almost all pupils become confident readers who achieve exceptionally well in reading by the end of Year 6.

The school accurately identifies the specific needs of pupils with SEND at the earliest possible opportunity.

Staff make careful adaptions to the delivery of the curriculum when necessary. This allows pupils with SEND to participate in all aspects of school life and achieve very well.

Pupils' behaviour is excellent.

They follow routines impeccably. Pupils are exceptionally well focused on their learning. They are resilient when faced with challenges.

Pupils show great care for each other and work together harmoniously. Pupils' levels of attendance and punctuality are excellent. The school works effectively with a small number of families to support pupils when their attendance needs to improve.

The school has developed an exemplary personal development offer for all pupils. It supports pupils to be exceptionally well prepared for life beyond school. Pupils become confident individuals with a strong sense of moral and social purpose.

They value the incredibly wide range of leadership opportunities available to them. These enable pupils to make positive improvements to their experience of school. For example, the mixed-age 'animal groups', where the views of pupils of all ages are gathered.

Pupils have an excellent knowledge of how to keep themselves healthy and safe. They understand the potential risks of online activity and know how to keep themselves safe online. The personal development programme secures pupils' understanding of the diverse nature of their community.

Pupils understand the importance of demonstrating respect for all. Pupils' determination, independence and strength of character are well developed through the school's deliberate 'skills for life' work. Pupils recognise how these skills are helping them to achieve their ambitions for the future.

Pupils enthusiastically participate in the wide range of clubs and many sporting opportunities available to them.

The school has created a culture of ambition and continuous improvement for staff and pupils alike. Staff are incredibly proud to work at this school.

They value the strong relationships that they forge and the opportunities for teamwork with their colleagues. The school considers staff's workload to help them to fulfil their responsibilities successfully.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Also at this postcode