Twelve Apostles Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils love to attend this most welcoming and nurturing school. They enjoy learning because teachers make lessons exciting.

Pupils are extremely happy in school and they feel very safe. They talked about having lots of friends and they said that teachers and other staff look after them incredibly well.

Leaders have very high aspirations for all pupils at this school.

This is true for pupils' learning, as well as their behaviour. Many pupils require additional help to enable them to learn well. Leaders and staff are experts at providing the correct support to allow pupils to achieve very highly.

Overall, pupils' behaviour is exemplary. A small minorit...y of pupils, who sometimes struggle with behaviour due to their additional needs, explained how staff help them to improve quickly. Pupils said that bullying is rare.

They further stated that staff are quick to resolve any issues if they arise.

Pupils relish carrying out roles of responsibility at school. This could include being a playtime leader or a school councillor.

They thrive on raising money for charities. Pupils take part in clubs, such as knitting or eco club, and some join the choir. Visits, and visitors, contribute strongly to pupils' personal development.

They help pupils to become more resilient learners.

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

Over several years, leaders have developed a curriculum that is broad, balanced and very ambitious. Pupils' learning goes beyond the scope of the national curriculum.

In all subjects, curriculum plans show clearly and precisely what pupils need to learn and by when. Teachers skilfully ensure that pupils' learning builds on what they already know. This enables teachers to introduce new learning at just the right time.

Pupils achieve exceptionally well as a result. They talk with much confidence about their current learning and what has come before.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have their needs identified early.

They receive specialist support to help them learn exceptionally well. Leaders' ambition for these pupils' achievement is the same as for all other pupils. Staff understand the needs of pupils with SEND extremely well and ensure that they are fully met.

Leaders ensure that these pupils have access to the full curriculum.

In lessons, teachers question pupils skilfully to check that they have understood new knowledge and concepts. Teachers are adept at helping pupils to recall prior learning.

This reminds pupils of what they already know about a particular subject. Where pupils' recall is less strong, teachers are skilled at taking a step back. They help pupils to embed knowledge before moving on to learn new content.

This helps pupils to make links in their learning. It also helps them to know and remember more of the curriculum.

Enabling pupils to become expert readers is a key priority for leaders.

Leaders consider reading to be the key skill to unlocking pupils' wider learning. Consequently, leaders ensure that pupils learn to read as soon as they start school. For many children in the Reception class, this means that they receive appropriate initial support to develop their speech and language.

They then move on quickly to learning phonics. Teachers make sure that pupils' reading books are well matched to the sounds that they are learning. This allows pupils to develop reading fluency and confidence at pace.

Pupils who struggle to read, and those with SEND, receive tailored support to help them to catch up quickly.

Leaders' management of pupils' behaviour is exceptional. Leaders and staff work closely with pupils, parents and carers, and other professionals to understand the additional support that some pupils need.

This helps pupils to overcome any barriers to positive behaviour which might affect their learning. Any disruptions to learning in lessons are rare. Over time, the care and attention given to pupils has yielded impressive results.

Pupils manage their behaviour very well. They are extremely well prepared for the next stage of their education.

Pupils enjoy a wide range of opportunities which support their wider development.

They develop a very strong understanding of other faiths and cultures. They are acutely aware of important issues such as racism and why this should never be tolerated. The curriculum provides regular opportunities for pupils to develop their stamina and to 'have a go' at new experiences.

Pupils at this school develop into well-rounded citizens by the time they leave the school.

Staff delight in working at the school. They feel highly valued by leaders and governors.

They appreciate the support given to them by leaders, for example when managing their workload and well-being. Leaders and governors engage very well with staff. Leaders equally act in the best interests of pupils and their families.

This helps to create a purposeful ethos in the school, with highly positive relationships.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders and governors take their responsibilities to safeguard pupils very seriously.

They ensure that staff have regular, well-planned training and updates. This means that staff are alert to any signs that pupils could be at risk. When incidents occur, staff are quick to respond to make sure that pupils are safe.

This includes working effectively with other agencies.

Staff are particularly alert to safeguarding matters which are prevalent in the local area. They work closely with pupils and their families to manage any risks.

Pupils learn how to keep themselves safe through the curriculum. For example, they learn about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. They also learn how to keep themselves safe when online.

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