St Barnabas Church of England School

Overview

St Barnabas Church of England School continues to be a “good school,” described as a “happy and caring place to learn” with a strong “family feel.” The inspection confirms that staff have high expectations, resulting in pupils who behave well, feel safe, and are enthusiastic about their learning and the wide range of extra-curricular opportunities available.

Strengths

• The school fosters a positive environment where pupils demonstrate values such as “love, obedience, respect, forgiveness, honesty and kindness,” creating a strong sense of belonging.
• The curriculum is “well-sequenced” and inclusive, ensuring that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) can confidently access learning through effective support strategies.
• Reading is highly promoted; staff deliver phonics “consistently well,” and children in the early years get off to a “flying start” as “confident, independent and curious learners.”
• Parents are “overwhelmingly positive,” with typical comments describing the school as “fantastic” and feeling like a “family.”
• Staff workload and well-being are valued, and the school provides thorough support for both new and experienced employees.

Areas to improve

• The school must monitor the impact of recent curriculum changes in some subjects to ensure pupils are “knowing and remembering more” over time.
• Attendance remains too low; the school needs to reinforce expectations with families to ensure pupils attend regularly so they do not miss “vital learning.”

Safeguarding

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