St. Bernadette’s Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Pupils' attainment is outstanding and has been so in four out of the past five years. For the year 2012, the national assessment results showed that Year 6 pupils were a year ahead of what is generally expected of them.

In 2011 and again 2012, the progress made by pupils from the time they were seven years of age to the end of Year 6 was shown to be in the top 2% of school's nationally. Disabled pupils, those with special educational needs, those who speak English as an additional language and those who are entitled to the pupil premium also make outstanding progress. The school's excellent systems for keeping track of pupils' progress in...dicate that these high standards are set to continue.

Currently, pupils' achievement in reading and mathematics slightly outstrips that of writing. In almost half the lessons seen, teaching was outstanding. The work and activities provided in lessons meet the needs and interests of pupils of all levels of ability.

Pupils thrive on challenging questions and finding things out for themselves. Children make good progress in the Early Years Foundation Stage but the provision is not yet as well developed as the school would like. Pupils are proud of their school and all of those connected to it.

There are excellent relationships between pupils and adults. Pupils are eager to learn and their behaviour in, and outside, classrooms is exemplary. Pupils willingly take on roles of responsibility because they believe it is a way of giving something back to the school for all the support, help and friendship adults offer them.

Outstanding leadership has led to marked improvements in all areas of school life since the time of the last inspection. Leaders and managers at all levels, including governors, are exceptionally successful at driving the school forward. The checking of teaching and learning is extremely rigorous and information gained from these activities is used astutely to improve their quality.

Governors have an accurate view of how well the school is doing. They support the school and hold it to account with rigour.

Information about this school

St Bernadette's is larger than the average-sized primary school.

St Bernadette's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy converted to become an academy on 1 April 2012. When its predecessor school, St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School was last inspected by Ofsted it was judged to be good. Since the previous inspection the school has experienced many changes in staffing including the headteacher.

The proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for children in local authority care, pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and the children of families in the armed forces, is below average. The proportion of pupils supported through school action is below average. The proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is below average.

The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic groups and those who speak English as an additional language is average. The proportion of pupils who join or leave the school other than at the usual time is average. The school meets the current floor standards, which set the government's expectations for attainment and progress.