St Barnabas CofE Primary School

Overview

Pupils at St Barnabas CofE First and Middle School “enjoy learning” and feel “happy and safe” within a “calm and orderly” environment. The school has achieved “rapid improvement” under its executive headteacher, delivering a “Good” quality of education with an “ambitious curriculum” that prepares pupils well for the next stage.

Strengths

• Reading is the “top priority,” with a logical phonics programme ensuring pupils “quickly become fluent and enthusiastic readers.”
• Staff provide “high-quality pastoral care” and are “skilled at adapting work” for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• The curriculum is “ambitious” and reviewed regularly, with clear progression from one key stage to the next.
• Pupils demonstrate good behaviour, “concentrate and behave well in lessons,” and learn to “respect those different from themselves.”
• Leaders have created an inclusive culture where staff are “happy and motivated” and work effectively with parents.

Areas to improve

• In some subjects, “small steps that pupils need to take in their learning are sometimes not defined precisely enough” at early stages, limiting learning.
• In recently changed subjects, it is “not clear how teachers will use” end points to measure learning or address misconceptions.

Safeguarding

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