St Johns Church of England Primary School, Clifton

Overview

Pupils “thrive and feel safe” in this “warm and inclusive” school where they “love coming to school.” Leaders maintain a “clear and ambitious vision,” delivering a “broad and ambitious” curriculum that supports high standards and positive attitudes. The inspection highlights exceptional behaviour, personal development, and early years provision, with staff morale described as high.

Strengths

• Pupils exhibit “exceptional” behaviour, being “polite, kind and courteous” towards one another and adults.
• The curriculum is “carefully designed” to ensure pupils acquire essential knowledge, with “loops of learning” helping to consolidate important concepts.
• Reading is a “magical experience” for children, supported by “well-trained staff” who deliver phonics effectively and quickly identify those at risk of falling behind.
• Staff provide effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, enabling them to “succeed” through targeted adaptations and resources.
• Equality and inclusion are “golden threads” running through the school, with initiatives like the ‘Culture Café’ celebrating differences.

Areas to improve

• In “a few foundation subjects,” assessment is “not fully embedded,” resulting in some pupils having “gaps in their knowledge.”
• Some Key Stage 1 pupils do not “secure fundamental knowledge in writing” before moving on to more complex tasks, hindering their progress.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective.”