St Josephs Catholic Primary School, Lancaster

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an inadequate school Leadership and management of the school are weak.

Leaders and governors have failed to bring about the necessary improvements to ensure that pupils benefit from an acceptable standard of education. Leaders' evaluation of the school's performance is overgenerous. Plans to bring about improvements have been ineffective.

Leaders have failed to halt the decline in pupils' outcomes. Middle leaders do not have a clear understanding of what needs to be done to improve the subjects that they lead. In most year groups, the quality of teaching is weak.

Teachers' use of assessment information is poor. Learning is not matched to pupil...s' needs. Consequently, almost all groups do not make the progress of which they are capable.

Pupils' academic outcomes are inadequate. Most pupils currently at the school continue to considerably underachieve. Leaders have not used the additional funding for disadvantaged pupils and for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well enough to ensure that these pupils overcome their barriers to learning.

The curriculum for subjects other than English and mathematics is not fit for purpose. It does not build effectively on pupils' prior knowledge. In most year groups, teachers' weak subject knowledge contributes to pupils' poor progress.

Pupils do not make enough progress in a wide range of subjects. Pupils' attendance is broadly in line with the national average. However, too many pupils are persistently absent from school.

The school has the following strengths Leaders promote pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development well through the range of opportunities that they provide. Pupils' personal development and welfare are promoted well. They feel safe and enjoy coming to school.

The new associate headteacher has quickly identified the considerable weaknesses in the school and has begun to take positive action. Children make good progress in the early years. They thrive in the nurturing environment that leaders have created and are well prepared for Year 1.

Information about this school

The school has undergone significant change in the past year. Currently, the school has no permanent headteacher. The current associate headteacher is the second associate headteacher in post since September 2018.

She took up post on 13 May 2019 on a part-time temporary contract. Since the last inspection, the diocese has carried out a review of governance. As a result, there has been a considerable change in the membership of the governing body, including the appointment of a new chair and vice-chair of the governing body.

The school is receiving substantial support from the local authority and the Diocese of Lancaster. This school is smaller than the average-sized primary school. The early years and key stage 1 pupils are in a separate, modern purpose-built building set in its own grounds.

Key stage 2 pupils are in the original older building, together with the offices and main hall. The majority of pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils with SEND is in line with the national average.

The proportion of pupils supported by an education, health and care plan is below the national average. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is more than double the national average. A section 48 inspection was conducted in February 2019.