St Anne's Catholic Primary School

Overview

St Anne’s Catholic Primary School is described as a “happy, caring and inclusive community” where pupils feel like “being in one big family.” The inspection found that leaders have significantly improved the school since the previous visit, delivering a “well-planned, ambitious and engaging curriculum” that supports high achievement and exemplary behaviour.

Strengths

• Pupils display “exemplary” behaviour, treating others with “utmost respect” and courtesy, creating an environment where bullying is rare.
• The curriculum is carefully sequenced, with subject leaders ensuring pupils secure crucial knowledge; teachers use assessment effectively to check understanding and revisit prior learning.
• Reading is a top priority, with consistent phonics teaching ensuring most pupils become “confident and fluent readers” by Year 3.
• Robust procedures support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), enabling them to make “strong progress.”
• Staff feel “highly valued” and proud to work at the school, supported by leaders who are considerate of workload and well-being.

Areas to improve

• The personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum is “not sufficiently well planned and sequenced,” meaning pupils do not consistently remember previously taught content.
• Assessment systems in foundation subjects are at “varying stages of development,” with some not sharply focused enough to give leaders an accurate view of pupil learning.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with accurate records, necessary checks on adults, and a “strong culture of keeping children safe” supported by dedicated staff and regular training.