St Gregory's Catholic Primary School

Overview

This is a “happy and cohesive school” where pupils are “eager to take on the many roles and responsibilities available to them.” Leaders have driven “significant improvements since the last inspection,” resulting in a well-planned curriculum and effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “well planned and sequenced” in the majority of subjects, with content taught in a “logical order.”
• Reading is taught well, with a “well sequenced” phonics programme and staff who provide “sustained training and support.”
• Pupils behave well and understand the “five steps of the behaviour policy,” valuing the praise and rewards they earn.
• The early years provision is “an exciting place” where children are eager to join in activities and receive quick extra help if they fall behind.
• Senior leaders are “considerate of [staff] well-being and workload,” and governors provide the “right level of challenge and support.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure the curriculum is “fully planned and sequenced, across all subjects,” as some do not yet make clear the most important knowledge pupils should retain.
• Leaders should ensure all pupils have reading books that “match the sounds that they know,” as some current books are too easy and hinder fluency.
• Leaders need to routinely check records of early behaviour breaches for “trends and patterns,” as current monitoring is “in their infancy.”

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with detailed records, comprehensive staff checks, and pupils who know how to stay safe and who to approach with concerns.