St Swithun’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The interim headteacher and deputy, with strong support from the governors and local authority, have brought about dramatic, rapid improvements in staff morale and parental support. One parent is reported as saying, 'the school has found its heart again'. Governors and staff share the leaders' high expectations and ambition for the school.

The interim headteacher's inspirational leadership and relentless focus on improving teaching, learning and assessment have been effective. Teaching is good throughout the school and staff apply the school's systems consistently, such as marking pupils' written work and giving constructive feedback. Pupils get o...ff to a good start in the early years due to the effective teaching, well-managed resources and stimulating environment.

Parents are involved well in their children's learning. Good support, guidance and challenge from the local authority have contributed to the school's rapid improvement. Pupils enjoy their learning and behave well in lessons and around the school.

They respond well to responsibilities such as being part of the school council management team. They are diligent and eager to learn. They take pride in their work and attendance has been above average for the past few years.

All aspects of safeguarding are managed well and pupils say that they feel safe in school. The school provides pupils with a good range of subjects enhanced by clubs, educational trips and visitors. Music is a strength, with many pupils learning a musical instrument.

Pupils have a keen sense of fairness and tolerance towards others. They are being well prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils make good progress in all year groups in reading, writing and mathematics.

The most-able pupils receive a good level of challenge. Support for disabled pupils and those with special educational needs or who are disadvantaged is well targeted and effective. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teachers do not always identify quickly enough that some less-able pupils need more help to cope with work that they find difficult.

Teachers do not give pupils enough subject-specific feedback when marking written work in topic and science books.

Information about this school

St Swithun's Catholic Primary School is slightly larger than the average-sized primary school, with one and a half classes in each year group and two full-time Reception classes. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for support through the pupil premium is below average.

Pupil premium is additional government funding for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals or who are looked after by the local authority. The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs is close to the national average. Around three-quarters of pupils are of White British heritage with the remainder from a wide range of other ethnic backgrounds.

Nearly a quarter of pupils speak English as an additional language. The school has recently introduced a breakfast club each morning. There have been two different headteachers and several changes of teachers since the last inspection.

The current headteacher and deputy took up their posts in September 2015; they are interim appointments for two years. The school is receiving support from a local national leader of education from College Park Infant School. The school meets the government's floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics.