St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

St Teresa's Catholic Primary School continues to be an outstanding school.

What is it like to attend this school?

At St Teresa's, staff strive to make sure that all pupils will achieve well, enjoy their lessons and be prepared for life beyond primary school.

Pupils of all ages talk enthusiastically about their school. They feel safe and happy at St Teresa's because they like learning and being with their friends. They say that school is fun, and they are confident that the adults care about them.

Pupils sharing their views with the inspector agreed that 'school is like a second home for us'.

Pupils live up to the school's mission statement. They learn to 'Do the l...ittle things well'.

They are encouraged to be a 'secret friend'. This means being kind to someone who is not in their close friendship group. This might be by picking up someone's coat or even sharing a smile.

Pupils' behaviour is excellent. They say that they are 'taught to respect their elders'. They say that bullying doesn't really happen, but if pupils fall out, adults help them to resolve their differences.

Staff and pupils have warm and trusting relationships, so that pupils have someone to talk to if they are ever worried.

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

Leaders are ambitious for every pupil to do well. They have set out in every subject precisely what pupils must know and be able to do.

Teachers follow the plans so that pupils build up their knowledge in every subject step by step. Pupils know what teachers do to help them remember what they have been taught and why it is important to do so. One pupil summed it up by saying, 'We will remember it even when we are grown-ups.'



Teaching pupils to read is a top priority right from when children start in the Reception Year. Teachers waste no time teaching children to recognise letters and the sounds they make. Teachers carefully choose the books that each pupil will read so that they are exactly matched to the sounds the pupil has learned.

Pupils read the books that they are given accurately, improving their confidence and enjoyment of reading.Children in the Reception Year settle into school life very quickly. Clear routines are established right from the start.

Staff have high expectations of the children. When children sit on the carpet to listen to their teacher, they do so attentively. When they play outside, they do so with enthusiasm.

There is a consistent approach to teaching mathematics through the school. It is taught exceptionally well. In every lesson, pupils go back over concepts they have learned in the past.

Teachers explain new ideas clearly so that pupils understand them. Leaders have high expectations of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Teachers provide just the right equipment and support to pupils who need extra help to learn with their classmates.

Teachers check frequently what pupils know and can do. They adapt their lesson so that they provide additional explanations if pupils need them.

Pupils behave exceptionally well in class and around school.

Each class has a calm atmosphere where pupils can listen to their teacher, concentrate and work hard. Pupils move around school without fuss.

Pupils' personal development is extremely well promoted.

Leaders are determined that pupils will learn about the world beyond their local area. Pupils visit the Houses of Parliament and the Royal Opera House. They go to the ballet.

They visit the Hay Festival of Literature and Arts. Pupils can learn to play a musical instrument and spend the day at a university. Parents are encouraged to come into school to talk to pupils about their careers.

An example of this was during the 'Women in Science' day.

Pupil's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is part and parcel of the ethos of the school. Pupils are taught the difference between right and wrong.

They have time to be reflective and to be peaceful. They learn that some people are less fortunate than they are. Pupils raise money for charity.

For example, they raise money to provide water for those in need in other countries. The school council gets involved in local issues. They are currently working with the local council to find ways to make the road outside school safer for pedestrians.

This school is very well led. Staff at all levels speak very highly of the school's leadership being considerate of their workload and well-being. Leaders, including from the multi-academy trust, find out what staff think about their workplace and how it can be improved.

They act on what they find. This is appreciated by staff.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff keep a watchful eye on the welfare of all pupils. They know the potential signs of abuse. Leaders work with external agencies to support families.

In school, pupils can talk to any member of staff, a mentor or the school chaplain if they have any worries.

Pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe. They know about the potential dangers of using modern technology.

Pupils learn how to cycle safely on the roads. The police and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children visit school to talk to pupils about how to keep themselves safe.

Background

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

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 school to be outstanding in February 2016.

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