St Mary's Catholic Primary School

Overview

Pupils are described as “very happy” and “very respectful,” benefiting from a culture where leaders’ values of “respect, love and care are palpable.” The school has moved from a previous ‘Requires improvement’ judgement to ‘Good’ overall effectiveness, with ‘Outstanding’ behaviour and attitudes. Leaders have successfully addressed prior weaknesses, creating a “calm and orderly atmosphere” where pupils take pride in their learning.

Strengths

• Pupils exhibit “exceptional” behaviour, being “polite, courteous and well mannered” with rare bullying incidents dealt with “swiftly and effectively.”
• The curriculum is “ambitious for all pupils,” including those with SEND, with a strong focus on developing language and vocabulary from the early years.
• Reading is prioritised through a “rich variety of texts” and a new phonics curriculum, ensuring pupils become “confident and fluent readers.”
• Leaders and governors are “considerate of staff’s workload” and prioritise well-being, ensuring staff “feel valued.”
• Pupils are prepared for life in modern Britain through initiatives like the Cumbrian Award, fostering “responsible citizens” who contribute positively to society.

Areas to improve

• In some subjects with recently introduced curriculums, leaders must ensure staff are “well equipped to check that pupils are learning the intended curriculum” and retaining knowledge over time.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a clear culture where staff are trained to identify risks and leaders act on concerns “in a timely manner.”