St Thomas More Voluntary Catholic Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The interim headteacher and the consultant headteacher, skilfully supported by governors, have a strong vision and ambitious plan for the continued improvement of their school.

Teaching and achievement are improving. Recent progress has been particularly rapid. Children make good progress in the early years.

They are well prepared to begin Year 1. All pupils make good progress in reading, writing and mathematics as well as in other subjects. They are enthusiastic learners and enjoy their lessons.

Teaching is good. Teachers typically plan stimulating lessons that engage pupils' interest and encourage studiousness. Behaviour and t...he work of the school to keep pupils safe are good.

Pupils are keen and become increasingly confident learners within a secure and caring environment. The curriculum offers a good balance of subjects. Together with a full range of clubs and other extra activities, pupils are encouraged well in their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Governors know their school well. Because of this, they are able to offer informed challenge to school leaders. They monitor school performance and planning closely and effectively.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teaching is not always challenging enough. Pupils are not consistently challenged to achieve as highly as possible. They are not always required to think deeply and to solve problems that extend their thinking.

Some targets are too easily within their grasp. Pupils' extended and imaginative writing is not always confident and fluent and does not fully reflect the range of their reading.

Information about this school

This school is smaller than the average primary school.

The proportion of disabled pupils or those with special educational needs is below average. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils for whom the pupil premium provides support is average. (The pupil premium is additional government funding that schools receive to support pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after by the local authority.

) The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic groups is greater than the national average. The proportion of pupils for whom their first language is not believed to be English is much larger than the national average. The school met the current government current floor standards in 2014.

These are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics by the end of Year 6. There have been extensive changes to staffing at all levels since the last inspection. Both the interim headteacher and the consultant headteacher are recent appointments.

The school receives school improvement support including that from National Leaders and Local Leaders of Education from the following schools and organisations: The Hull Collaborative Academy Trust; The Hull Collaborative Teaching School Alliance and St Mary's College (with whom St Thomas More has a confirmed federation soon to take place). The current consultant headteacher of St Thomas More is seconded from Sutton Park Primary School within the Teaching School Alliance. The interim headteacher is seconded from St Mary's College.