St Joseph's Catholic Primary School B/S

Overview

Pupils at St Joseph’s are described as “happy and safe,” demonstrating pride in their school and acting out Christian values of “respect and tolerance.” The report highlights that pupils behave well, with bullying being rare, and benefit from a wide range of opportunities linked to the curriculum and Catholic faith. Leaders have planned a curriculum with high expectations, particularly focusing on vocabulary and reading, though inconsistencies remain in some subject areas.

Strengths

• Personal development is rated Outstanding, with pupils being “reflective and mature” about sustainability and enjoying meaningful enrichment activities.
• Staff know pupils well, fostering strong relationships and “very positive” behaviour and attitudes to learning.
• The reading curriculum introduces a “wide range of texts,” and staff teach phonics and reading “consistently well” in alignment with leaders’ plans.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive “well-planned pastoral support” and specialist equipment, making excellent progress in social, emotional, and mental health.
• The governing board is “mindful of the well-being and workload of staff,” ensuring additional expectations are necessary and beneficial.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure staff have training to plan and deliver appropriate interventions for Key Stage 1 pupils struggling with early reading, including some with SEND, so they “catch up quickly.”
• Leaders must outline precisely what should be taught across the whole curriculum, as some subject leaders do not clearly identify all skills and knowledge, leading to gaps in understanding for some pupils.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders ensuring keeping pupils safe is a priority, staff using reporting procedures well, and appropriate support in place for families and pupils.