St John's Primary School

Overview

St John’s Primary School demonstrates a “high level of capacity for sustained improvement in the interest of all the learners.” The inspection found “very good” standards in achievements, provision for learning, and leadership, with parents and staff reporting high satisfaction. The school operates in a deprived area but maintains strong community links and a supportive ethos.

Strengths

• Children achieve “very good standards in literacy” and demonstrate “growing confidence” in discussing their learning.
• “Exemplary” behaviour is noted, with children showing “very good dispositions for learning” and independence.
• The “quality of the pastoral care is outstanding,” fostering a “caring and supportive ethos” and mutual respect.
• Leadership provides “highly effective strategic leadership” with a “well embedded culture of reflection and self-evaluation.”
• ICT is used “highly effectively” to engage children and support learning in literacy and numeracy.

Areas to improve

• Disseminate “very good and outstanding practice” further to ensure greater consistency of high-quality learning experiences for all children.
• Ensure lesson evaluations consistently reflect upon children’s learning to inform future strategies, as some currently do not.
• Provide extended opportunities, particularly for more able pupils, to engage in “open-ended investigations and problem-solving challenges” in mathematics.

Safeguarding

The school has “comprehensive arrangements in place for safeguarding children” which reflect Department of Education guidance, and children report feeling “happy and secure” and knowing what to do if they have concerns.