St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Clayton-le-Moors

Overview

The report describes a school where pupils feel “happy and safe” and are “keen to support their teachers.” Leaders have designed an “ambitious and broad curriculum” that engages all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The inspection highlights strong behaviour, effective safeguarding, and a positive culture where staff are supported and pupils are prepared to be “responsible citizens.”

Strengths

• Pupils display “Outstanding” behaviour, being “polite and courteous” and behaving in a “calm and gentle manner.”
• Leaders ensure every pupil becomes a “confident and fluent reader” through structured phonics teaching and carefully matched books.
• Staff are “highly skilled in the teaching of phonics” and use assessment strategies well to check that earlier learning is secure.
• Pupils with SEND are “identified quickly” and receive appropriate support, working closely with external agencies.
• Staff are “proud to work at the school,” noting that leaders are “considerate of their workload and well-being.”

Areas to improve

• In a “small number of subjects,” leaders are less clear about how pupils’ knowledge builds progressively, hindering teachers from checking if pupils have remembered key concepts.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” with staff receiving up-to-date training and leaders taking “swift” action in response to concerns.