St. George’s Primary School & St. George’s Nursery School, Great Yarmouth

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

St George's Primary & Nursery School, Great Yarmouth continues to be a good school.

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are safe and happy at St George's. The school has high expectations for the learning and behaviour of all pupils. There is a calm, quiet atmosphere in the school.

Behaviour is typically good in class and around the school. Pupils like their teachers, enjoy learning and work hard in lessons. Pupils achieve well in most subjects.

Pupils from many different backgrounds get on well together. Adults rapidly resolve any arguments, when necessary.

Pupils are exceptionally well cared for.

Pupils say they know who to go to if they are w...orried about anything. Adults listen to them, and pupils are confident that they will get the help they need.

Pupils enjoy the many after-school clubs.

Most take part in clubs at some point during the school year. Pupils love the wide range of visits and visitors linked to subjects they are learning. There are opportunities for families to have fun visits together to places like a local circus.

Most parents appreciate everything the school does for them and their children.

Children make an excellent start to their education in Nursery and Reception. Children quickly settle down due to consistent routines and the high expectations of all staff.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school knows its pupils and families exceptionally well. The school has high expectations for what all pupils can achieve. It has designed a curriculum that is firmly rooted in the requirements of the national curriculum.

In addition, the curriculum is carefully tailored to meet the specific needs and interests of the pupils. The curriculum is in its second year of implementation due to disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.Consequently, not all subjects are fully developed.

In a few subjects, it is not clear what pupils must know, understand and be able to do by the end of a lesson or series of lessons.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are included in every lesson. Teachers check how well pupils are learning throughout lessons.

Teachers suitably adapt the curriculum to ensure that all pupils, including those with SEND, make strong progress from their starting points in most subjects.

Children start to learn to read as soon as they join the school, in Nursery. The reading curriculum is well structured.

All adults are carefully trained, and there is consistency in how reading is taught across the school. The school is vigilant in checking pupils' progress in learning phonics. Teaching groups are checked every day to ensure that pupils make the progress of which they are capable.

Pupils love books and reading from the word go. They rapidly learn phonics. All pupils read fluently by the end of Year 3.

Books are well matched to pupils' reading stage.

Reading is of the highest priority to the school. Pupils appreciate the large variety of books available to them in school.

Older pupils read a wide range of different authors and types of books. Pupils are pleased that the school has given them time to read every day.

Learning behaviour has improved since the last inspection.

The school ensures that all adults have the same approach to managing pupils' behaviour. The curriculum is interesting; therefore, pupils enjoy their lessons and listen attentively to their teachers. Attendance has improved.

The school supports families who need help in getting their children to school every day. There are robust systems to dissuade families from taking holidays in school time.

The school has designed a 'thinking curriculum'.

In every subject, pupils learn to think deeply and reflect on what they are learning. Discussion and debate are at the heart of lessons. For example, older pupils can talk about the pros and cons of deforestation.

The 'thinking curriculum' contributes well to pupils' personal development. Pupils are well prepared for life beyond the school.

Children thrive in the early years.

The school has high expectations for what all children can achieve from the moment they start. The curriculum is designed to ensure that children are ready for Year 1. There are opportunities to learn both inside and outside the classroom.

Children feel safe. They are confident to talk to adults about their learning. Children behave well because learning is interesting and fun.

The school has addressed the issues from the last inspection. There is an exceptionally strong sense of teamwork among staff. Everyone works together to make the school the best it can be for staff and pupils.

Teachers have no concerns about workload. They are proud to be part of the school.

Governors know the school well.

Their visits help them to support and challenge school leaders effectively.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a few subjects, teachers do not clearly explain what pupils should know, understand and be able to do by the end of a lesson or sequence of lessons.

As a result, pupils do not remember the intended knowledge by the end of a unit of work. The school should ensure that, in all subjects, teachers are clear about the important knowledge they want pupils to learn by the end of a sequence of lessons so that pupils know and remember more by the end of each unit of work.

Background

When we have judged a school to be good, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good.

This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection, which is carried out under section 5 of the Act.

Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

This is the first ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good in 19 and 20 June 2018.