St Philip’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Highly effective and dynamic leadership provided by the headteacher and assistant headteachers has brought about improvements in all aspects of the school's work. St Philip's is now a good school. There is a strong sense of teamwork across the school.

Staff are committed to bringing about further improvements and morale is high. All groups of pupils, including the most able and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, make at least good progress from their starting points. The pupil premium is used effectively.

The personal and academic needs of disadvantaged pupils, including the most able, are met well due to the ca...refully tailored support provided. Consistently good teaching enables all pupils to achieve well. Well-planned, imaginative lessons capture pupils' interests and motivate them to succeed.

The teaching of reading is a strength. Pupils are developing a real passion for reading. Pupils' progress in writing is not quite as good as that of reading and mathematics.

Pupils do not write long pieces of work that challenge them to think creatively or apply skills fully. Pupils' behaviour is outstanding. This is a happy, caring school.

Pupils work hard and strive to do their best. Parents are overwhelmingly satisfied with the school and the way it educates and cares for their children. Staff are extremely vigilant in ensuring that pupils are safe and know how to keep themselves safe.

The curriculum is varied and offers pupils many exciting opportunities to learn. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is strong. Governors are well informed and provide effective support.

They make regular visits to the school, robustly challenge leaders and hold them fully to account for their actions. Children make good progress during the early years. They settle quickly into school and enjoy learning.

However, at times they could make even faster progress in writing when they work independently. Many subject leaders are new to their posts. Their role in improving the quality of teaching and learning is still developing.

There remain a few variations in the rates of progress of boys and girls across the school.

Information about this school

The school does not meet requirements on the publication of information about the curriculum and the policy for special educational needs and/or disabilities. A statement on the school website showed that it was under construction.

All relevant information was available in the school. The school is smaller than the average primary school. There are no Nursery classes.

Children attend the Reception class full time. Most pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is much smaller than average.

The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is above average. The proportion of pupils who have a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan is below average. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is below average.

Since the previous inspection, the school has experienced significant staffing changes with most teachers and some teaching assistants retiring or moving on to other posts. Two assistant headteachers have joined the school since the previous inspection and five out of the seven year-group teachers were new to the school in September 2015. Most of the new teaching staff were at the start of their teaching careers.

A number of the teaching support staff have also joined the school since the previous inspection. The school met the government's floor standards in 2016. These are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6.

A private provider offers a breakfast club on the school's premises. This provision is subject to separate inspection arrangements. Inspection reports may be viewed on the Ofsted website.

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