Larmenier & Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school.

All leaders say that they aim to ensure that every pupil has the opportunity to thrive academically, socially, physically, spiritually, morally and culturally. They are highly successful in doing so. Pupils, therefore, leave the school extremely well prepared for secondary education.

The new senior leaders, as well as all other leaders, are building on the long track record of outstanding teaching, high standards and excellent behaviour found in the school. Governors are extremely well informed about all aspects of the school's work. They check on the work of all leaders and challenge them to meet highly ambitious targets for all... pupils.

Parents have exceptionally positive views of all aspects of the school's work. Pupils behave exceedingly well in lessons and around the school. They feel safe at all times as they know that adults care for them deeply and will help them should they have any difficulties.

The pupils themselves play a major role in their successful learning. They display a thirst for learning, readily engaging in any activities that teachers set for them. They are eager to come to school and so attendance is well above average.

Teaching is consistently at least good and much is outstanding. Teachers and teaching assistants plan meaningful and interesting activities that support and challenge all groups of pupils to learn exceptionally well. Achievement is outstanding.

All groups of pupils make rapid progress from their starting points. Overall, standards reached in English and mathematics at the end of Key Stages 1 and 2 are high. Last year, Year 6 disadvantaged pupils attained higher standards than both their peers and other pupils nationally.

Children get off to an excellent start in the early years. They learn exceptionally well because of the first rate teaching and support they receive. The well-resourced, vibrant and stimulating environment ensures that children are productively occupied and learning at all times.

As a result, they are extremely well prepared for entry into Year 1. The exciting curriculum and many enrichment opportunities on offer ensure that pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development flourishes in this school. Pupils are very well prepared for life in modern Britain.

Information about this school

This school is much larger than the average-sized primary school. The proportion of pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds is well above average. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is much larger than found nationally.

Almost one in six pupils is disadvantaged and supported by the pupil premium (additional government funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those in care). This proportion of pupils is lower than the national average. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is about one in six.

This proportion is broadly average. The proportion of pupils who join or leave the school at other than the usual times is above average. The early years provision comprises a Nursery class for three-year-old children who attend part time, either in the morning or the afternoon, and two Reception classes for four-year-olds who all attend full time.

The school works in partnership with Sacred Heart High School and St Vincent's Catholic Primary School in a local teaching alliance. This work includes providing training, in conjunction with St Mary's University, for new teachers. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of Year 6.

There have been some changes to the personnel in leadership roles since the last inspection. The deputy headteacher was promoted to the headteacher role in September 2014. The two deputy headteachers and the early years leader took up their posts at the same time.

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