St Peter’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Newchurch

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils thrive at this happy school. They benefit from the caring relationships that they enjoy with staff, who look after them extremely well.

At the start of each day, staff greet pupils with kind words and a smile. Pupils enjoy the calm and comforting presence of Fable, the school dog.

The school has the highest aspirations for the achievement of all its pupils.

It aims, and succeeds, in 'unlocking potential with the keys of love, respect and friendship'. These aspirations start in the early years. Children are immersed in an ambitious and engaging curriculum which is particularly well designed to prepare them for the demands of Year 1.

These aspir...ations continue within and throughout every class to the point when pupils leave the school, ready to face the future.

Pupils' behaviour is a joy to behold. They are consistently respectful and kind to each other and to adults.

Older pupils take pride in being ambassadors for the school. Pupils flourish in the school's friendly and harmonious atmosphere.

The school provides pupils with an extensive range of extra-curricular opportunities.

It diligently ensures that these experiences enhance pupils' talents and interests. Pupils enjoy taking part in outdoor and adventurous activities during residential stays. They become confident and independent young people.

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

Governors deploy their expertise to strong effect to offer high levels of challenge and support to the school. They have highly effective processes in place to ensure that they have an accurate and comprehensive view of the quality of the education at the school. They ensure that the school provides a welcoming and inclusive environment for all pupils.

The school has set out a highly ambitious curriculum. The knowledge, skills and key vocabulary that pupils will learn have been clearly set out from the early years, where children make a very strong start. The school has an innovative and highly successful approach to ensuring that all pupils learn well in its mixed-age classes.

It has carefully designed the curriculum to ensure that pupils in the different year groups make strong progress across the range of subjects. The curriculum prepares pupils exceptionally well for each stage of their education.

The school has made certain that staff have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the subject curriculum content that they teach.

They make checks on what pupils know, remember and can do. Staff use this information promptly to address any gaps or misconceptions that pupils may have. This ensures that pupils build their knowledge securely over time.

The school ensures that it identifies and assesses pupils with additional needs promptly and provides effective support. Teachers design engaging and appropriate activities to ensure that pupils with SEND can access the curriculum alongside their peers. This ensures that these pupils are very well prepared for their next steps.

The school prioritises the development of pupils' language, communication and reading skills. Older pupils speak enthusiastically about the books that they have read and enjoyed. They have an intricate knowledge of the characters and plots.

For example, they can talk confidently about the different literary themes that they have encountered such as ambition, conflict and relationships. This learning makes an impressive contribution to pupils' wider development.

Pupils show exceptional levels of motivation towards their learning.

The school ensures that pupils develop the resilience that they need to attempt new challenges. Pupils learn how to stay safe, including online, and how to look after their physical and mental health. Almost all pupils attend school regularly and are punctual.

Pupils know that all people, regardless of their background or beliefs, should be treated with respect and accepted into the community. Staff take great care to ensure that pupils have an age-appropriate understanding of healthy relationships and how their bodies change as they grow.

The school's approach to supporting pupils' personal development is exceptional.

It provides a wealth of opportunities for all pupils to engage in enriching clubs, activities and competitions which develop their talents and interests. These give pupils the physical, mental and social skills and confidence to become resilient, happy and fulfilled individuals.

All pupils have a strong involvement in school life and in the wider community.

They take on an extensive range of responsibilities. For instance, some older pupils are caring champions and buddies who look after the younger pupils. Other pupils are trained playleaders who organise games at breaktimes and lunchtimes.

Pupils also help to design improvements to the school grounds and raise funds for a range of charitable causes.

Staff appreciate the consideration that the school has for their well-being. For example, they are given the time and resources that they need to carry out their duties effectively.

Parents and carers appreciate the wealth of information that they receive about their children's experience in the school. Parents, rightly, hold the school in very high regard.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.