Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The new headteacher has worked well with other leaders, staff and governors to raise achievement and improve teaching. Pupils reach well above average standards in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 2.

Year 6 pupils reach high standards in reading and mathematics. Teaching is good and aspects are increasingly outstanding. Teachers have high expectations of all groups of pupils.

Children in the early years get off to a good start and achieve well, especially in learning the sounds that letters make (phonics). Pupils behave well and feel safe in school. They raise large sums for charity and support the younger children..../>
Middle leaders are effective in influencing their areas of responsibility through regular checks on the quality of teaching and learning. Governors know the school well and provide a good level of challenge to school leaders. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Pupils' standards in writing are not as high as they are in reading and mathematics by the end of Year 6, especially for boys.

Teachers' marking does not always show pupils how to improve their work. At times, pupils lack initiative in lessons and do not know what to do when they are stuck with their work.

Information about this school

The school is larger than the average-sized primary school.

There are two classes in each year group. Early years provision is part time in the Nursery and full time in the Reception classes. Half of the pupils are from a range of minority ethnic backgrounds.

A smaller number speak English as an additional language. Just over one tenth of pupils are supported by the pupil premium (additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals or in the care of the local authority). This is below average.

Under one tenth of pupils are identified as disabled or with special educational needs. This is below average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics.

The school hosts a breakfast club and an after-school club that are privately run and are inspected separately. The headteacher joined the school in April 2014, following a long period when the school did not have a permanent headteacher. The school's leaders support leadership and teaching in other local schools.