St Richard’s RC Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key Findings

This is an outstanding school. It makes a significant difference to the lives of its pupils and prepares them exceptionally well for their future education.

It is a hub of the community and parents and carers comment overwhelmingly positively about its effectiveness. All groups of pupils make outstanding progress in their learning and attainment is well-above average by the end of Year 6. Pupils are excited and curious about learning; their reading skills are fluent, accurate and expressive.

This is a school where reading is celebrated, nurtured and enjoyed. Children settle down quickly and happily in the Early Years Foundation Stage and make good progress in their learning. Outdoor learning i...s not as rapid as that indoors and further development of outdoor provision is a school priority for improvement.

The quality of teaching is outstanding. Pupils thrive in an atmosphere of challenge. The highest expectations of pupils' achievement, teachers' excellent subject knowledge and thoughtful planning to match the interests and abilities of individual pupils characterise lessons.

Pupils are extremely welcoming and very keen to engage with each other, with staff and with visitors. Their empathy, sense of justice and excellent behaviour reflect the spiritual, moral and uplifting character of the school. The vast majority of parents and carers believe that behaviour is a strength of the school and that their children feel safe.

Inspection evidence confirms that pupils' behaviour, attitudes to learning and safety are outstanding. Leadership is outstanding. A non-negotiable belief that pupils at St.

Richard's can achieve at the highest level is shared by all staff. Consequently, pupils are encouraged to aspire to be university students and to aim for challenging, successful careers from the youngest age. This reflects the school's excellent promotion of pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Leaders manage the school's performance and lead teaching very effectively to ensure that pupils achieve exceptionally well and that they are happy.

Information about the school

St. Richard's is a larger than average sized primary school.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is high. The proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is high. The number of pupils who speak English as an additional language is well above average, but the majority of pupils are from White British backgrounds.

The school meets the current floor standards which set the government's minimum expectations for attainment and progress. The school is one of 12 included in the national survey 'Reading at 6 – How the best schools do it.' It has gained the International School award and the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Mark for its work in improving pupils' ICT skills.

Inspection grades: 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory and 4 is inadequate Please turn to the glossary for a description of the grades and inspection terms