St Benedict Biscop CofE Primary School

Overview

Leaders have created a “strong and inclusive community” where pupils are “well prepared for the next stage in their learning.” The school has shown “impressive determination to rapidly improve” since its previous inspection, resulting in high-quality education and outstanding behaviour. Pupils enjoy school, demonstrating resilience and kindness, supported by a curriculum that builds effectively from the early years.

Strengths

• Pupils display “exemplary behaviour” and are “consistently kind and thoughtful to each other,” underpinned by Christian values.
• The curriculum is “well-developed” and ensures all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, “achieve well.”
• Leaders provide a “rich variety of additional opportunities,” such as clubs and visits to places of worship, to develop pupils’ talents.
• Staff use “consistent approaches” and assessment strategies to help pupils apply learning independently and access the curriculum.
• Leaders and governors are “highly engaged,” providing effective support to staff and monitoring safeguarding closely.

Areas to improve

• For a small number of pupils at the early stage of learning to read, books are “not always well matched to the sounds they are learning,” which limits their ability to read fluently. Leaders should ensure better matching to support these pupils.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with clear procedures understood by all staff and regular training ensuring they can identify if a pupil might be at risk from harm.