St Vincent’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils thrive in this warm and nurturing school environment. They enjoy strong, positive relationships with staff.

Pupils value the care and support that they receive from the kind and attentive staff. This fosters a deep sense of safety and belonging.

Pupils consistently display politeness and good manners.

They follow the agreed rules and routines. This contributes to the calm and focused atmosphere in classrooms. Pupils approach their work with enthusiasm.

They stay engaged and give their best efforts in lessons.

The school sets high expectations for pupils' achievement. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabi...lities (SEND), work hard to meet these expectations.

Pupils achieve well across a range of subjects.

Through their leadership roles, pupils make a meaningful and positive impact on their school and the wider community. For example, they build relationships with local care home residents through regular visits.

Within the school, pupils take pride in their roles as school councillors. They actively promote sustainability by ensuring energy conservation and preventing water waste. These responsibilities empower pupils to develop a sense of purpose, demonstrating their commitment to caring for others and protecting the environment.

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

Since the last inspection, the school has effectively addressed the areas for improvement identified. This includes the designing of an ambitious and broad curriculum. The curriculum clearly defines what pupils should learn.

Children in the early years get off to a strong start. The school has created a vibrant and engaging curriculum. This inspires a love of learning and prepares children for the transition to key stage 1 well.

Teachers implement the school's curriculum well. They have good subject knowledge, and they introduce new learning clearly. Teachers ensure that they provide regular opportunities for pupils to revisit prior learning.

This is beginning to have a positive impact on supporting pupils to remember the key information that they will need for future learning. Teachers typically makes checks on pupils' understanding well to shape future learning.

Pupils with SEND are well supported, enabling them to access the curriculum and achieve success.

The school prioritises early identification of SEND to ensure prompt and appropriate support.

The school places emphasis on fostering a love of reading, starting in the early years. In the Nursery and Reception class, children regularly engage with stories and rhymes.

The teaching of phonics begins in the Reception class, with staff well trained to deliver the programme effectively. Pupils who struggle with phonics are promptly identified. Targeted support is provided to help them.

As a result, most pupils develop confidence and fluency in reading. However, a small number of pupils do not read as well as they should. This is because, on occasion, teachers move on to new learning too quickly.

When this happens, pupils do not spend enough time consolidating what they have learned. Older pupils are developing a greater knowledge of different texts and authors. They enjoy the stories that their teachers share with them.

Although the pupils who left Year 6 in 2023 did not achieve outcomes in line with their peers nationally in their statutory tests, these results are not reflective of pupils' current attainment through the curriculum. Typically, in many subjects, pupils achieve well.

Pupils' personal development is thoughtfully integrated into various curriculum areas.

The school plans activities that broaden pupils' understanding of the world. This prepares them for active citizenship in their local community. Pupils participate in first-aid training and regularly raise funds for charities.

Pupils enjoy the school trips and guest speakers that enrich the curriculum.

Pupils are kind and respectful. Older pupils take pride in their roles as special friends to younger peers.

They look after and play with the children in Nursery and Reception at lunchtimes. Pupils learn to celebrate diversity. For example, pupils celebrate cultural festivals that are important to members of the school community.

The school places a strong focus on attendance. For the few pupils who need extra support, swift and effective actions are taken to improve it.

Parents and carers appreciate the school's central role in the community.

Many parents commented on the strong support their children receive at the school, including for pupils with SEND. Parents also commented on how well children are welcomed and cared for at the school.

Governors are skilled and provide effective support and challenge.

Staff said that they are privileged to work at the school. They feel very well supported by leaders.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• A small number of pupils do not read as fluently as they should. This hinders their access to age-appropriate texts. The school should ensure that teachers give pupils more time to practise and embed the important knowledge and skills before they move on, so that all pupils achieve as well as they could.

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