St Peter’s Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are proud of their school and of the part they play in making it a happy and successful place to learn.

They appreciate the spaces such as the new library that have been designed to incorporate their ideas and relish the many opportunities on offer to be involved in the wider life of the school. Pupils excitedly explain their roles as librarians or lunchtime leaders. They discharge these roles diligently and delight in helping others.

Pupils are kind to each other. They champion the school's values of courage, respect and compassion. Classmates are thrilled when others are successful.

They recognise and celebrate when challenges have been faced and ove...rcome along the way.

Pupils behaviour is exemplary. Staff provide support to any pupil who needs a little help from time to time to manage their emotions or behaviour.

The school is calm, settled and orderly. Pupils know that it is important to work hard and try your best. They aspire to this in everything they do and attain highly, particularly in English and mathematics.

Pupils are very well prepared, both personally and academically, for the next stages of their education.

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

The school has ensured that an ambitious curriculum is in place. It is clearly ordered to help pupils learn key knowledge in all subjects from Reception to Year 6.

Staff are given the support they need to deliver this curriculum with increasing confidence and consistency so that pupils learn well. The sharp focus on key knowledge that is evident in English and mathematics, is developing in the wider curriculum. Pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have their needs quickly and carefully identified.

This helps teachers to adapt learning well for pupils with SEND, so that they are fully included and successful.

Learning to read is a priority. As soon as children start school in Reception, they learn phonics.

Staff quickly identify any pupils who start to struggle and provide the support they need to keep up or catch up. Pupils learn to read quickly and well. By the end of key stage two, pupils typically attain highly in national end of key stage assessments.

Pupils are keen readers. They enjoy discussing the increasing intricacies of plots and motivations of characters in the wide selections of books they read about. Trips to the local library help encourage pupils to become avid readers.

Pupils have extensive vocabularies. There is a sharp focus on talk and communication that starts in early years. Staff expertly encourage children to talk about what they are doing as they explore and play.

They carefully introduce and model new words and phrases. This prepares children well for key stage 1.

Pupils enjoy learning about a range of different subjects.

They are highly engaged with their learning across the school. For example, in music, younger pupils exuberantly explore playing instruments and start to learn about musical notation. Older pupils carefully perform songs they have learned on guitars.

The school has ensured that everybody shares a strong understanding of the school's values and how these influence daily school life. This has been clearly set out. The behaviour policy is consistently applied.

This helps pupils understand how they are expected to behave. Pupils value the rewards and praise they are given for being 'kind, ready, respectful and safe'. Relationships throughout the school are warm, considerate and inclusive.

Pupils like coming to school. They attend well.

The school's work to help pupils to be responsible, respectful and active citizens is exemplary.

Opportunities to take part in charity work or take part in community events are weaved through pupils' school experience. Pupils learn about tolerance and equality. They understand concepts such as democracy and how this works in both the school and the wider world.

Pupils are mature, considerate and compassionate.

The new leadership team have a sharp focus on improving outcomes for all pupils, despite changes in school location and staffing. They have successfully built a united school community.

Staff feel that their views and workload are considered when decisions are made. Governors know the school very well. They carry out their duties highly effectively.

Parents welcome the many opportunities for them to be included in school life. They are rightly confident in the school to ensure that their children are safe, happy and learning well.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The wider curriculum has been revised. Sometimes, teaching is not as confident and clear in these subjects. The school should continue to check that the wider curriculum is helping pupils to remember essential knowledge and build on this as successfully as is seen in English and mathematics.