St Peter’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

This is a good school. The ethos for learning is extremely good and reflects the Christian and family values that permeate the whole school.

The attainment of pupils is above average and rising. In reading and mathematics, attainment is particularly high. Pupils speak well and their writing is frequently detailed and expressive.

However, spelling is often inaccurate due to carelessness, and untidy handwriting masks the high quality and detail of what is written. Pupils' progress is good and steadily improving, though more slowly in writing than in other areas. Pupils with English as an additional language make good progress.

In the Reception class, children make good progress overall..., and improving progress in their language and literacy skills. Parents have good reason to be happy with the school. The great majority are pleased with the quality of education and care the school provides.

One parent wrote that the decision over which class to place a child in was taken 'by consultation with us, looking at my child's attainment, age, maturity, and friendship groups. This is typical of how the school knows each child and how they are individually treated.' Pupils love school and their attendance is excellent.

They feel entirely safe and make their own decisions about safety, for example, about being safe cycling and about staying safe around the school building. Their behaviour is excellent and they are enthusiastic about all activities, and especially about their increasing success at football! Pupils have an outstanding grasp of the importance of exercise and healthy eating and are critical of any food they feel is not healthy. Pupils' contributions to the school and wider community are good, especially in taking responsibilities, involvement in the Christian life of the school and in caring for each other.

They have an excellent understanding of the values and beliefs of other cultures and show respect for other traditions. Their attendance is outstanding and they are well prepared for the next stage in their education. Teaching is good.

Lessons are well planned and work is nearly always matched to the needs of individual pupils. Occasionally, learning activities leading on from planning do not obviously ensure that pupils fully grasp what is expected of them, especially in spelling and writing. Where there is outstanding practice, the teacher sets out exactly what is expected and links it to pupils' targets.

Pupils then grasp what is expected of them and really enjoy trying to achieve well. The quality of support is good, enabling pupils to express their understanding and knowledge, and develop confidence in their own abilities. The curriculum is good, with increasingly imaginative ways of engaging pupils' enthusiasm and many opportunities for them to reinforce their literacy skills.

Provision for information and communication technology (ICT) is good and supports pupils' development in English and mathematics. The range of visits and visitors enhances the curriculum effectively and the wide range of out of school activities is well supported. The quality of care, guidance and support is excellent.

Built on excellent relationships with families, the staff provide outstanding support for pupils, backed by a very wide range of links with external agencies and services. The quality of support is underpinned by the strong Christian ethos of the school. All forms of unacceptable behaviour are dealt with extremely well.

Pupils know what is expected of them and are confident in asking any adult for help. They play an important part themselves by telling staff if anyone is troubled by anything, and looking after upset pupils. Arrangements for children to transfer smoothly from the nursery schools they attend to the Reception class are exceptionally good.

Leadership and management are good. The headteacher provides clear direction for improvement and she is well supported by all staff. Staff new to leadership roles are rapidly gaining the skills they need to contribute to improvement.

Self-evaluation is good, and the school has an accurate understanding of its strengths and weaknesses. Standards and attendance are rising, and teaching and the curriculum are improving. The capacity for further improvement is good and there has been good progress in addressing issues from the previous inspection.

The governing body is supportive, well informed and provides a high level of challenge through its own monitoring and evaluation.

Information about the school

This is a small school. Children come from mainly White British backgrounds and the great majority are from Catholic families.

A small minority come from other backgrounds, and other languages spoken include French, Portuguese, Polish, Italian, German and Punjabi. The proportion of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is below average, but varies considerably between year groups. The school has national Healthy Schools status and the Activemark award.