St Thomas’ Catholic Primary School, Sevenoaks

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. The school's effectiveness has improved to outstanding levels as the headteacher, staff and governors have succeeded in improving key aspects of its work.

Notable improvements are pupils' level of achievement and the quality of teaching. Both are now outstanding. Pupils gain much higher levels of English and mathematical skills than are typically found.

This prepares them extremely well for their next schools. Teaching meets the needs of pupils both academically and in helping them to become avid learners. This helps them to make excellent progress in nearly all areas.

Pupils' behaviour and safety are typically outstandi...ng. Parents and carers commented that it is an 'amazing school' and 'provides a wonderful experience for my child'. Children have a very good start in the Reception class, where their welfare, social and early number and language skills are catered for very well.

Pupils are mature and confident. They support each other really well, as the school skilfully weaves high levels of care for individual needs, while developing pupils' sense of community and respect for the school's Christian values. Those pupils who find learning more difficult or who are eligible for extra funding are supported extremely well both within class-based activities and by one-to-one support.

Along with those pupils at the early stages of learning English, their needs are catered for remarkably well. Parents and carers are very praiseworthy of the efforts put in by the school to meet their child's individual needs. The headteacher has very clear expectations and has promoted high levels of teamwork among staff.

Governors provide conscientious support, which has been instrumental in helping to raise the school's level of effectiveness since its previous inspection.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than average and serves pupils both from the local area and from much further afield. The majority of pupils are White British, but an above average proportion are from other ethnic heritages, which is an increase since the previous inspection.

An average proportion are at an early stage of learning to speak English. The proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium, which is additional funding for those known to be eligible for free school meals, in the care of the local authority, or with a parent or carer in the armed services, is much lower than normally found. The proportions of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs supported through 'school action', 'school action plus' and statements of special educational needs, are just below average.

There is a pre-school accommodated on the school site, which is managed independently and therefore inspected separately. The school provides and manages a breakfast club. The school meets the government's floor standards which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.