St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders, governors and trustees have been successful in improving the quality of teaching and learning across the school. Teaching is good because leaders have made clear their expectations and provided support to enable teachers to teach well.

The standards achieved by pupils currently in Year 6 in reading, writing and mathematics are high. Almost every pupil achieved or exceeded the standard expected for their age. Governors and trustees provide a good balance of support and challenge for leaders.

They are realistic in their view of the school but, together with leaders, are ambitious for its further development. Leaders have been succe...ssful in developing partnerships with parents and carers. Parental feedback provided during the inspection was almost entirely positive and parents have confidence in the school.

Leaders provide good opportunities for pupils to develop their spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding. As a result, pupils develop into caring, thoughtful and well-rounded individuals by the time they leave the school. Pupils conduct themselves well in lessons and at playtimes.

They respect their teachers and enjoy coming to school. Consequently, the vast majority of pupils attend well. Children get off to a good start in early years.

Adults ensure that they know children's needs right from the start by visiting pre-schools and talking with parents. Consequently, parents say that their children settle quickly. Support provided for some disadvantaged pupils is not focused precisely enough on their individual needs to enable them to meet the standard expected for them in reading.

Progress in some subjects, such as history and geography, is not as consistently strong as in English and mathematics because the curriculum is not taught in sufficient depth. Some middle leaders are not yet fulfilling their roles as effectively as others and do not make best use of assessment information to identify where pupils' progress is strongest or needs further improvement. Teaching does not consistently challenge the most able pupils to achieve the higher standard that they are capable of reaching.

Information about this school

The school is federated with a neighbouring school with which it shares an executive headteacher and head of school. The school is part of St John the Baptist Catholic Multi-Academy Trust. The school has a local governing body.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum standards expected for pupils at the end of Year 6 in reading, writing and mathematics. The school is a smaller school than is found on average nationally. The majority of pupils are of White British background.

The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is similar to that found nationally. The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities or who are supported by an education, health and care plan, or statement of special educational needs, is around the national average. Pupils are taught in four mixed-aged classes, the composition of which is different in the mornings and the afternoons.