St Bartholomew's Church of England Primary School

Overview

The report confirms that St Bartholomew’s Church of England Primary School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” It describes a “caring school” where pupils are “happy and safe,” supported by an “ambitious curriculum” and strong staff relationships. While the school continues to perform well overall, the inspection highlights specific inconsistencies in teaching practices that require attention to ensure all pupils achieve their full potential.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate “influential values of being considerate, cooperative and confident,” creating a culture where they “support each other with kindness and respect.”
• The curriculum is “ambitious,” with staff deliberately enhancing learning through opportunities such as art exhibitions and participation in a brass band.
• Reading is a clear priority; children “confidently master new sounds quickly,” and disadvantaged or SEND pupils receive “high-quality support” to become fluent readers.
• Personal development is “high quality,” with pupils holding “mature conversations about difference and respect” and having a “secure understanding of healthy relationships and consent.”
• Staff are “well supported by leaders,” which motivates them to ensure “pupils are at the heart of everything that they do.”

Areas to improve

• In some subjects, selected activities do not focus sufficiently on the “most important knowledge that pupils need,” leading to gaps in understanding.
• Some teachers fail to routinely check that pupils have mastered new learning before moving on, resulting in “gaps in their knowledge.”

Safeguarding

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