St Walburga’s Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key Findings

This is a good school, which is popular with parents and carers.

It is not yet outstanding because teaching does not yet ensure outstanding learning and achievement, particularly in mathematics. Pupils' achievement is good and they make good progress in their learning. Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage make good progress.

The good progress continues throughout the school. By the end of Year 6, attainment in reading, writing and mathematics is significantly above the national average. The overall quality of teaching is good, ranging from outstanding to satisfactory.

Teachers have good subject knowledge and ensure that pupils are provided with interesting and stimulating lear...ning opportunities. On a few occasions, opportunities are missed to extend pupils' thinking in mathematics. Teaching and support for disabled pupils and those with special educational needs is good overall, although, very occasionally, pupils' understanding of new mathematical ideas is not promoted well enough.

Teachers provide good feedback in lessons and when marking work, so pupils always know how well they are doing and what they need to do to improve their learning. Behaviour and safety are good. That is supported by the views of parents and carers.

Pupils are polite, courteous and maintain very good relationships with others. They have positive attitudes to learning and their attendance is above average. Leadership and management are good.

The headteacher, senior and middle leaders provide clear direction for the school's work. They are supported well by the governing body. Self-evaluation is accurate.

The leadership of teaching and good performance management have led to significant improvements in the quality of teaching and in the use of assessment to track pupils' progress. The school demonstrates good capacity for improvement.

Information about the school

St Walburga's is a slightly larger than average primary school serving the local community.

Most pupils are from White British backgrounds. A few pupils are at an early stage of learning English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is lower than average.

The proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is lower than average. The school meets the current floor standards, which are the minimum standards of attainment and progress expected by the government. The school provides its own breakfast club.

The after-school club, which is managed by a private provider, is subject to a separate inspection and a report about its quality can be found on the Ofsted website. Since the last inspection, there have been significant changes to the senior management team. A new headteacher, deputy headteacher and senior teacher have been appointed.

The number of pupils on roll has fallen as a result of diocesan policy to reduce the size of the school. There is a new Chair and Vice-chair of the Governing Body. The school has achieved a number of awards, including the Gold Sing Up award for the promotion of singing across the curriculum, Investors in Pupils, and the Inclusion Charter Mark.

Inspection grades: 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory and 4 is inadequate Please turn to the glossary for a description of the grades and inspection terms

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