St John's CofE (C) Primary School

Overview

This small primary school is described as a “happy and safe place” where pupils are guided by values to “pray, play and prosper.” Leaders have established high expectations for behaviour and a “reading-rich environment,” resulting in pupils who achieve well and demonstrate “mature attitudes” and kindness towards one another.

Strengths

• Pupils exhibit “Outstanding” behaviour and personal development, with older children acting as positive role models who “nurture the younger children.”
• The curriculum is carefully sequenced, allowing pupils to “build up what they know and remember over time” in subjects such as physical education.
• Leaders have created effective systems for identifying pupils with additional needs, making “sensible and relevant curriculum choices” for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Pupils become “successful, fluent readers” through strong phonics support and a love of books fostered from their earliest days in school.
• Staff and parents praise the “warm and welcoming environment” and the care leaders show for both pupils and staff.

Areas to improve

• Teachers’ use of resources in some subjects does not always support intended learning, which can hinder pupils from reaching their full potential.
• Teachers do not consistently address pupils’ errors, leaving some with “misunderstandings or incomplete work” and causing them to repeat mistakes.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders keeping safeguarding “at the heart of all they do” and maintaining robust systems to check staff safety and record concerns.