St Mary and St Pancras Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Senior leaders have worked tirelessly since the last inspection to raise the quality of teaching and assessment to improve pupils' progress. This work is most evident in mathematics and some aspects of the wider curriculum. Governors have a deep knowledge of the school and have an accurate view of its strengths and weaknesses.

Through this, they are able to both challenge and support school leaders. They have made judicious use of support from the local authority to ensure that the school is now successful. Staff are committed to providing pupils with a balance of secure care and guidance and academic challenge across a range of subjects.

...>This prepares them well for secondary school. Pupils in all year groups make good progress. Leaders make effective use of monitoring in order to target support wherever needed.

Teachers know the pupils very well. Teaching is good overall and captures pupils' interests, including through good use of questioning. Teaching is good, though in key stages 1 and 2 some teaching does not always challenge pupils of different abilities and consequently progress is not as good as it could be.

Teaching improves pupils' skills most strongly in mathematics and in other subjects, including science, physical education (PE) and music. However, there is more to do to ensure that the teaching of writing in key stages 1 and 2 is equally effective. Leaders recognise that the breadth of the curriculum needs to be further developed across all subjects of the national curriculum.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) do well because care is taken to plan work that meets their individual needs. Pupils' attendance has improved over time, reflecting the importance placed on it by leaders and staff. It is now at least average for all groups of pupils.

Pupils show respect, tolerance and kindness towards others. They are well behaved and willing to work hard. Leaders ensure that pupils are well cared for, and make good provision for their personal development.

In the early years, the good provision in the Nursery and Reception classes means that children make strong progress and are very well prepared for Year 1. Leadership of the early years is highly effective. Parents have great confidence in the early years leadership; however, this confidence is not shared by some parents of pupils in key stages 1 and 2.

Information about this school

The school is an average-sized primary school. The proportion of pupils with SEND is well above average. The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium is also well above average.

The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language (EAL) is high. Pupils come from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds. The largest group of children is from Bangladeshi backgrounds, with children from a White British background forming the next sizeable ethnic group.