St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen

Overview

The inspection confirms that St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” Pupils feel “happy and safe” in a nurturing environment where staff “genuinely care about pupils and their well-being.” The school maintains high aspirations, with an ambitious curriculum that helps pupils “know and remember more over time.”

Strengths

• Pupils are “highly respectful” and demonstrate kindness, contributing positively to the school community through roles such as chaplains and buddies.
• The curriculum is “ambitious for all pupils,” with teachers delivering lessons well by explaining new ideas clearly and linking them to prior knowledge.
• Early years provision is strong, featuring a “rigorous early reading curriculum” and a “calm, nurturing approach” that fosters curiosity.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive “excellent support,” with staff providing tailored help both in lessons and through extra activities.
• Senior leaders and governors share a “clear and united vision,” prioritising staff well-being and fostering an “effective partnership with parents.”

Areas to improve

• Some teachers do not check pupils’ learning effectively, leading to missed opportunities to address misconceptions or extend learning when pupils are ready. The school should ensure teachers are equipped to “systematically assess pupils’ understanding.”

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”