St Michael's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School

Overview

This is an “exceptional school” where pupils “flourish” and leaders “place no limits on pupils’ academic development.” The inspection found that staff maintain “the highest expectations,” resulting in a “highly welcoming school culture” where children are “proud to attend.”

Strengths

• The curriculum is “highly ambitious,” often “exceeding the expectations of the national curriculum,” enabling pupils to secure “deep knowledge of each subject.”
• Teachers possess “strong subject knowledge” and use “skilful questioning” to address gaps in understanding quickly, ensuring pupils “achieve highly in all areas.”
• Early years provision is “exceptional,” with children becoming “fluent readers and writers” quickly due to staff who are “expertly trained in teaching them to read.”
• Behaviour is “exemplary,” with pupils behaving with “maturity” and “utmost respect,” creating a “very happy and safe place.”
• Leaders provide “superb opportunities” for personal development, including detailed teaching about “different faiths, beliefs and cultures” and a wide range of clubs.

Areas to improve

The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with leaders creating a “strong culture of safeguarding” where staff are trained to recognise signs of need and act on concerns “promptly.”