St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Fully involving pupils in all aspects of school life is one of the significant strengths of this school.

Pupils feel respected and valued. They are unfailingly polite, helpful and exceptionally well-behaved. Leaders and managers, including the governors, are very proud of the highly caring ethos.

Pupils are fully prepared for their next steps because of an approach that supports all aspects of a child's development. Pupils make good progress from their starting points and by the time they leave the school, standards are consistently above average in both English and mathematics. The dip in pupils' progress in 2012 has been tackled effect...ively.

Disabled pupils and those with special educational needs receive very good support, which enables them to achieve well. Overall teaching is good. There is an increasing amount of outstanding teaching in school.

Pupils are enthusiastic learners who enjoy lessons and actively contribute their ideas. The school has a strong role in both the faith community and the wider local community. Parents are extremely enthusiastic and value highly what the school helps their children achieve.

The breadth of the curriculum and some of the experiences offered to pupils are outstanding. Pupils are encouraged to take part in a wide range of sporting activities and achieve considerable success. The relatively new leadership team is working effectively to improve teaching and learning.

Achievement has returned to previous levels after the drop in 2012. Significant improvements have been made in how pupils use their reading, writing and mathematics skills in other subjects. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Progress is not yet consistently good or better across all year groups.

Outstanding practice in teaching and assessment is not yet shared widely enough.

Information about this school

This is an average sized primary school. Most pupils are from White British backgrounds.

The proportion of pupils supported at school action is below average. The proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is above average. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium is much lower than average.

In 2012, there were no pupils eligible for the pupil premium in Year 6. The pupil premium is additional funding for those who are known to be eligible for free school meals, children from service families and those children who are looked after by the local authority. Fewer pupils leave or enter school except at the usual starting points than in most other schools.

The school runs childcare before and after school. There have been several staff changes since the last inspection, including the appointment of a new deputy headteacher who took up post in January 2013. The school meets the government's current floor targets which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.