R J Mitchell Primary School

Overview

R J Mitchell Primary School is described as a “friendly and inclusive” institution where pupils feel safe and valued. While the school demonstrates a “strong standard” in inclusion and meets safeguarding requirements, several key areas including achievement, attendance, and specific aspects of teaching are rated as needing attention.

Strengths

• Inclusion is a “real strength,” with a “highly sophisticated understanding of pupils’ needs” and effective support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs.
• Safeguarding standards are met, fostering an “open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.”
• The curriculum is “broad and ambitious,” with a “thoughtfully designed” early years provision that effectively prepares children for Year 1.
• Staff are supported with regard to workload and wellbeing, creating a positive environment where leaders have a “clear and purposeful focus.”
• Pupils demonstrate a “secure understanding of right and wrong” and benefit from a well-thought-out personal development programme.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure early writing skills, including “pencil grip, letter formation, spelling and punctuation,” are consistently developed to improve fluency and accuracy.
• Teaching needs to build more consistently on pupils’ prior knowledge to help them tackle “more complex aspects of the curriculum.”
• Leaders should continue work to improve attendance and reduce “persistent absence,” which remains above national levels.

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an “open culture” where concerns are “actively identified, acted upon and managed,” ensuring pupils are made safer and feel safe.