St Andrew's CofE Methodist (Aided) Primary School

Overview

This ungraded inspection confirms that St Andrew’s CofE Methodist (Aided) Primary School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The school is described as “welcoming” and “sits at the heart of the community,” where pupils feel “happy, safe and valued.” Leaders have successfully upheld the high expectations for achievement established in earlier inspections.

Strengths

• The school delivers an “ambitious, well-structured curriculum” where pupils “construct their knowledge effectively over time” and “achieve well.”
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are identified quickly and “learn the same curriculum as their peers” with appropriate adaptations.
• Reading is prioritised through a “consistently well” delivered phonics programme, ensuring pupils become “fluent readers” with books “matched carefully to the sounds that pupils know.”
• The early years curriculum builds knowledge in a “logical, well-considered order,” with staff effectively developing children’s “curiosity and independence.”
• Governors “understand and fulfil their statutory duties very well,” providing “effective support and challenge” while ensuring staff feel “valued and supported.”

Areas to improve

• The report states that “occasionally, checks of pupils’ learning are not effective enough,” meaning subsequent teaching is not always adapted to meet pupils’ needs.
• Consequently, “some pupils do not learn some of the curriculum as well as they could,” particularly when staff fail to identify those with insecure knowledge.
• The school should ensure staff “check pupils’ knowledge closely in each subject” to refine support and extension.

Safeguarding

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