St Chad’s Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Pupils make good progress from their starting points in Nursery and leave Year 6 with broadly average and rising attainment in English and mathematics. Children get off to a good start, particularly in Reception where outstanding provision, led skilfully by the Early Years Foundation Stage leader, gives them exciting opportunities to learn outside the classroom. Teaching is good or better overall throughout the school because staff know pupils' needs well and have high expectations of them.

Pupils respond well and say that lessons are fun. Pupils' behaviour and their ability to stay safe are outstanding in lessons, in the playground and ...around school, where they show respect and are courteous. Pupils of all ages and backgrounds mix well with each other, are attentive in lessons and are keen to work hard.

The new senior leadership team, led successfully by the headteacher, is having a strong impact on improving the quality of teaching and learning and raising pupils' achievement. As a result, the school is improving. The school's governors are skilled and very perceptive in their analysis of the school's performance, holding senior leaders to account based on their detailed knowledge of the school.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Overall, the rate of progress made by pupils is not yet outstanding, especially in reading and writing, and particularly for boys in these subjects. A small amount of teaching does not provide enough information to pupils on how to improve their work or does not provide sufficient challenge to help them make fast enough progress.

Information about this school

The school is an average-sized primary school.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for children in the care of the local authority, pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and pupils whose parents are serving in the armed forces, is average. The majority of pupils are of White British heritage but the proportion that is from minority ethnic groups is increasing. A smaller-than-average proportion of pupils speak English as an additional language.

The proportion of pupils supported at school action is below average but the proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is above average. A new senior leadership team has been appointed within the last 18 months. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.