The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The Pilgrim School is more than just a school for its pupils. The school and its community have a meaningful, lasting impact on pupils' lives.

Pupils treasure being a part of it. Pupils talk about being 'forever Pilgrim'. They develop a deep understanding of positive character attributes such as courage, compassion and integrity.

They strive to live by these in their daily lives.

Pupils relish the challenges of the school's ambitious, highly inclusive curriculum. They work hard, persevering when faced with a challenge.

They are reflective and conscientious, determined to do their very best. Pupils achieve extremely well.

Pupils are taught ho...w to behave well and how to manage their own emotions positively.

This starts in the early years, where children are warmly supported by adults to learn important routines and social skills. Pupils behave exceptionally well.

Positive relationships are deeply embedded throughout the school.

Pupils of all ages play and learn together harmoniously. Older pupils act as buddies for younger pupils. 'The sanctuary' provides a caring, nurturing space for pupils who are feeling worried or upset.

If pupils fall out with their peers, adults help to resolve this quickly. Adults ensure that pupils and their families get all the help they need.

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

The school has designed a broad, bespoke curriculum.

This meets the needs of pupils, including those who are disadvantaged and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The content that pupils will learn has been very carefully considered and organised. This starts right from the beginning of early years.

Teaching of important character attributes are skilfully woven throughout the curriculum. These teach pupils how to be 'forever Pilgrim'. Activities, workshops, events and visits are all purposefully planned to deeply enrich pupils' learning.

Learning to read is at the heart of the curriculum. The school is determined that all pupils become confident, fluent readers. Children get off to a strong start learning to read.

The teaching of phonics is of a high quality. Staff continually check children's understanding while they learn the phonics code. Pupils who fall behind are given tailored support.

This focuses sharply on the gaps in their understanding and helps them catch up quickly. The school's positive culture of reading permeates school life. The school's book swap and reading café contribute to this significantly.

Pupils talk about reading with great enjoyment.

Teachers are very knowledgeable and highly skilled. They explain new concepts clearly and precisely.

They show pupils what they need to do to be successful in their learning. Staff know pupils really well. They deliberately consider the needs of pupils with SEND.

Throughout the curriculum, highly effective adaptations are in place to make sure all pupils can access the rich curriculum content. This includes the use of adapted equipment and resources. Skilled staff provide highly effective support and guidance for these pupils.

Staff make sure pupils know the subject-specific vocabulary they need when starting new topics. Children in the early years benefit from high-quality interactions with skilled adults. Through these interactions, staff model important language.

They skilfully move children's learning on and they pose questions that spark children's curiosity.

Pupils have lots of opportunities to practise and apply their learning. Lesson activities also develop pupils' resilience and interpersonal skills.

Teachers routinely review what pupils have learned previously. This enables teachers to check whether pupils have remembered essential knowledge. It also helps pupils to recall and build on their prior learning.

Pupils are highly motivated to learn. They develop a secure understanding of essential knowledge. They use subject-specific language confidently when articulating their understanding.

They achieve highly across the curriculum.

The school's wider curriculum is deliberately designed to promote pupils' broader development. The school council plays a pivotal role in deciding the content of this.

All pupils in Year 6 are given a leadership responsibility, for example as a digital leader or as a member of the worship team. Pupils fulfil these roles confidently and enthusiastically.

Pupils benefit from a wide range of enrichment opportunities, for example in music and sport.

Pupils are taught about diversity and difference. They are knowledgeable about, and respectful of, people's different cultures, beliefs and disabilities. Pupils make a positive contribution to the local community.

They sing at a local care home and organise events that contribute to the local food bank. The school continually ensures that the most disadvantaged pupils benefit from the wider curriculum, including those who have SEND.

Staff are overwhelmingly positive about working in the school.

The school invests in their staff, providing high-quality training and professional development. Staff appreciate the efforts of leaders to support their workload and their well-being.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.