St Matthias Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an inadequate school Leadership is inadequate. Over time, leaders have not acted quickly enough to improve the standards of education across the school. Currently, leaders, including governors, do not have the capacity to make the improvements required.

Governors have not provided sufficient challenge or held leaders to account. They have not sought appropriate external support to help secure the improvements needed. Pupils' outcomes have been significantly below those seen nationally for more than two years.

By the end of key stage 2, pupils' attainment is well below the national average. Only a third of pupils attain the standards expected in reading..., writing and mathematics. Pupils' writing skills are not developed across the curriculum.

They cannot write with the accuracy or depth expected for their age. Pupils do not make consistently strong progress across the school from their starting points. Consequently, not enough pupils are working at the standards expected for their age.

They are not well prepared for the next stage of their education. The quality of teaching is inadequate across a range of subjects because of low expectations and a lack of challenge. Assessments are not used well enough to plan work which matches pupils' abilities.

Disadvantaged pupils make particularly poor progress. Very few of these pupils reach the higher standards at the end of key stage 2. The most able pupils and those who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities do not make enough progress over time.

Until recently, interventions were not helping these pupils catch up quickly enough. The school has the following strengths The proportion of pupils who reach a good level of development in the early years has risen steadily over the last four years. There is a strong sense of community across the school.

Loyal and committed school leaders, staff, parents, carers and pupils work hard together. Phonics teaching is effective. Standards at the end of Year 1 and Year 2 are in line with national averages.

The promotion of pupils' personal development and well-being is good. Pupils enjoy school, attend regularly, feel safe and behave well.

Information about this school

The school became a stand-alone academy converter in 2011.

The school is similar in size to the average-sized primary school. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is well above the national average. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is much lower than the national average.

The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is well below the national average. The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities requiring support is well above that seen in most primary schools. The proportion of pupils with an education, health and care plan is lower than the national average.

The school met the government's current floor standards in 2017. These are the minimum expectations for pupils' achievement and progress in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6. The school was identified as meeting the coasting criteria in 2016 and 2017.

A new headteacher was appointed in April 2018. She had been the acting headteacher since September 2017. New English and SEN leaders were appointed in September 2017.