St Peter’s Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

St Peter's Church of England Primary School continues to be a good school.

What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders' expectations are high. Staff and pupils rise to them.

Pupils are happy and behave exceptionally well. Lessons are free from disruption. Pupils understand the school's values, such as courage and effort.

They demonstrate them in the way they behave, work hard and try their best. Pupils love receiving a 'joy to teach' award for working well.Pupils feel safe.

They are not concerned about bullying. Many pupils could not remember it ever happening. Pupils know what to do if they have any worries.

Leaders carefully investigate any incidents... and make sure pupils have the support that they need. They teach pupils how to resolve conflict.Pupils are proud of their responsibilities.

They enjoy their roles as nutrition leaders, school councillors and house captains. Pupils care about their community and social issues. They recently campaigned to ensure that the grave of Baron Grenville, the Prime Minister who introduced the law to abolish the slave trade, was better commemorated in their local church.

Parents and carers praise the school and all it offers. As one parent wrote about their son, echoing the views of many, 'He comes home bubbling with new information every day and enjoys a good range of activities.'

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

Every child a success' is deeply embedded in the curriculum at St Peter's.

Leaders have planned an ambitious curriculum, tailored to meet the needs of all pupils. This includes the most able and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders have carefully mapped out the knowledge and skills they want pupils to learn in all subjects from Nursery to Year 6.

Occasionally, teachers do not link lessons closely enough to the subject content that leaders intend pupils to learn. Instead, they focus too heavily on writing skills.Leaders are working on making sure that teachers teach the curriculum consistently well.

The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed their monitoring and evaluation of the curriculum. Some subject leaders have not had the chance to check how well the intended curriculum is being delivered or how well pupils know and remember key knowledge. Others have not yet had the training needed to develop their roles.

Staff teach reading well. Pupils enjoy reading and talk enthusiastically about their favourite books and authors. Staff in the Nursery classes develop children's speaking and listening skills effectively.

This means children are ready to learn to read right from the start of Reception. Staff are experts in teaching early reading. Phonics teaching is clearly structured and well paced.

Teachers ensure that pupils read books that match the sounds they learn in phonics lessons, and pupils quickly learn to read. Any pupil who falls behind receives precise support to help them catch up.

Mathematics is a popular subject with pupils.

Teachers follow a mathematics curriculum that builds up pupils' knowledge in small steps. They present new learning clearly, building on what pupils already know. Teachers check pupils' learning carefully and make well-considered changes to what they teach when needed.

Staff plan activities that help pupils recall and practise learning. For example, in Reception, the inspector saw children playing the game 'What's the time Mr Wolf?' The children counted their steps confidently. This included numbers beyond 10.

Pupils with SEND achieve well. Leaders identify pupils' individual needs quickly and accurately. They work well with parents to gain their views.

Teachers provide these pupils with the support they need to learn well alongside their classmates. Leaders use external experts if they need further advice.Pupils benefit from a well-sequenced personal, social and health education curriculum.

Leaders are determined to give pupils the skills and support to flourish emotionally. Children in the early years learn to name and recognise their feelings. They are confident to approach their key person for reassurance.

Highly trained staff support pupils who need extra help with managing their anxieties and emotions.Pupils learn about different faiths, cultures and families. For example, pupils in Year 6 study a book about the Empire Windrush ship.

Pupils spoke about wanting to understand discrimination. One pupil said, 'If you hide this issue, people will not change.' This prepares pupils well for life in modern Britain.

Governors have received useful training. This has given them the required skills to provide strong support and effective challenge for leaders.Staff know that leaders value what they do.

The headteacher considers their views and workload when introducing new initiatives. Staff appreciate what leaders do to support their well-being. They are proud to work at St Peter's, and morale is high.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Safeguarding is a priority. Everyone understands their part in keeping pupils safe.

Staff are well trained and highly vigilant. They listen to pupils. They notice changes in pupils' behaviour and unpick what this may mean.

Staff report any concerns immediately. Leaders keep detailed records. They act quickly to provide support for vulnerable pupils and their families.

The curriculum helps pupils understand how to stay safe in many situations. For example, older pupils learn not to send inappropriate photos and what to do if they receive one.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Leadership of the foundation subjects is underdeveloped.

As a result, leaders do not always pick up when the curriculum is not taught as intended or know how well pupils are learning in these subjects. Leaders should ensure that staff have training and support to develop their subject leadership skills further so that they can ensure that the curriculum is being implemented effectively.

Background

When we have judged a school to be good, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good.

This is called a section 8 inspection of a good or outstanding school, because it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on a section 8 inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, then the next inspection will be a section 5 inspection.

Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the section 8 inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the section 8 inspection as a section 5 inspection immediately.

This is the first section 8 inspection since we judged the school to be good in December 2016.

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