English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, Sunderland

Overview

This ungraded inspection confirms that English Martyrs’ Catholic Primary School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The school is described as “nurturing, caring and supportive,” where pupils “flourish because they are cared for deeply” and exhibit “praiseworthy” behaviour. Leaders have created an environment where respect is commonplace and pupils are eager to learn.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate “exemplary behaviour” and are “routinely kind to each other,” with bullying being rare.
• The curriculum is “ambitious and carefully designed,” ensuring pupils, including those with SEND, make “strong progress.”
• Early reading is a high priority, with staff skilled in phonics and children developing “positive attitudes to reading.”
• Children in early years are “happy in school,” showing “determination and perseverance” in engaging learning opportunities.
• The school provides “high-quality nurture and care” for vulnerable pupils, with systems to ensure they receive necessary help.

Areas to improve

• Staff should ensure there are “effective opportunities planned for pupils to revisit and recap their learning that has taken place in previous year groups” to help deepen current understanding.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”