St Andrew’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. The headteacher, school leaders and governors have extremely high expectations of staff and pupils, which have led to strong improvement in all aspects of the school's work since the last inspection. Standards have risen rapidly since the last inspection, so that, by the end of Key Stages 1 and 2, attainment in reading, writing and mathematics is significantly above the national average and improving.

The school is welcoming, caring and supportive of pupils from all backgrounds. Staff are skilled at bringing together pupils from different cultures and developing their language and communications skills right from the start in the Early Ye...ars Foundation Stage. Excellent personal, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is at the heart of the school's success and underpins all of the school's strengths.

Teachers and support staff are highly trained and supported to extend their knowledge and skills. They constantly strive to do their best and, as a result, teaching is outstanding. The wide variety of themes and activities provided by the school, including the after-school clubs and visits, ensures that pupils develop skills in a broad range of subjects and are well prepared for their next stage of education.

Pupils are exceptionally motivated and eager to learn and are unreservedly polite and caring of one another. Their behaviour in lessons and around school is exemplary. Pupils are well trained to respond to their teachers' thorough marking and guidance and these support their excellent progress.

The governing body holds the school robustly to account for its performance and its management of the finances and this has strongly contributed to rising standards.

Information about this school

This is a larger-than-average-size primary school, which has two forms of entry and an additional class in Reception. The proportion of pupils who are eligible for the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for looked after children, pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and children whose parents are currently serving in the armed forces, is in line with the national average.

The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic groups is very high. A large number of ethnic groups are represented. The proportion of pupils speaking English as an additional language is well above the national average.

Approximately 15% are at an early stage of learning to speak English. The proportion of pupils supported at school action plus, school action or with a statement of special educational needs is in line with the national average. The school meets the government floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for the pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics.