St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Whickham

Overview

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The school is described as a “warm and welcoming place” where pupils are “happy and safe” and where high ambitions for achievement are “generally realised.”

Strengths

• The school prioritises fluent reading, with teachers demonstrating “deep knowledge and understanding of phonics” and providing tailored support to address gaps.
• A “well-structured, effective curriculum” in core subjects allows pupils to produce “independent writing of a high standard” and achieve well in reading and mathematics.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are “identified accurately” and access the “same ambitious curriculum as their peers” through adapted teaching.
• Leadership is “clear and compassionate,” fostering staff well-being and strong family relationships that support positive attendance.
• The early years provides a “secure and supportive start,” encouraging independent choices and developing early communication and number skills.

Areas to improve

• Strategies to help pupils retain key learning are “not consistently effective” in some foundation subjects, leaving some with “gaps in their knowledge.”
• The school must ensure approaches to support pupils in “remembering and building on prior learning” are consistently effective across all subjects.

Safeguarding

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