Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an inadequate school Safeguarding is not effective. Pupils are potentially at risk of harm because leaders and governors have not fulfilled their statutory duties.

Changes in leadership and staffing have disrupted the work of the school. Leaders know what needs improving but are too slow to do it. Teaching requires improvement because it is inconsistent across the school.

Leaders do not tackle poor teaching quickly enough. Some teachers have weaknesses in their subject knowledge, especially in mathematics. Assessment information is not used well to plan learning to help pupils make good progress.

Governors rely too much on what leaders tell th...em and do not check things for themselves. A significant minority of pupils, staff, parents and carers have concerns about how well behaviour is managed around the school. During their visit, inspectors saw examples of unkind, rough and silly behaviour at break and lunchtime that was not dealt with by adults.

In lessons, pupils' engagement wanders when their learning is not interesting. The most able pupils, those who need to catch up and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) often make less progress than their peers. Currently, progress is weaker in mathematics than in English.

Some aspects of the curriculum are poorly planned or not adequately covered. As a result, pupils do not make good progress in some subjects. The school has the following strengths Standards in English and mathematics at the end of each key stage are broadly in line with national expectations.

Children in the early years make good progress developing their early reading and writing skills. The majority of pupils learn to use phonics well in their reading. Attendance is above average and improving.

Most families are supportive of the school and ensure that their children attend regularly. Aspects of pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural education are a strength of the school.

Information about this school

The school was judged good at its last full inspection in December 2013.

A short inspection was carried out in October 2018. Since October, there have been two changes to the head of school role. The previous substantive postholder left shortly after the inspection in October 2018.

The role was then shared for a period of time. The current postholder is now full time and the role is in place on a temporary basis until August 2020. There have also been numerous changes in teaching staff.

The executive headteacher is also executive headteacher at the 'sister' school, St Pauls. The school has been receiving support from the Portsmouth Teaching School Alliance brokered by Portsmouth City Council. The school has a designated Catholic character, and this was last validated by a Section 48 inspection in February 2016.