St Michael's Primary School

Overview

St Michael’s Primary School is a small institution where leaders have successfully addressed previous inspection concerns, particularly regarding curriculum design. The report describes a school with a “special” community spirit, where pupils feel safe, valued, and confident in their learning. While most aspects of provision meet the expected standard, attendance remains a persistent challenge requiring further action.

Strengths

• Leaders have implemented a “broad and exciting curriculum” with clear guidance for teachers, enabling pupils to make secure progress.
• Pupils benefit from “thoughtful classroom support,” including effective adaptations for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Children in the early years receive “warm and attentive interactions” and develop core skills, such as phonics and handwriting, with confidence.
• Staff foster a positive environment where pupils “treat one another with kindness” and feel well known and supported.
• Governors provide “robust oversight” and work closely with leaders to manage resources and support vulnerable pupils effectively.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must strengthen strategies to improve attendance and reduce persistent absence, as rates remain consistently below the national average.
• Handwriting instruction needs to be taught “consistently well across all year groups,” as older pupils show less consistency than younger ones.
• Staff should provide timely feedback on errors, such as spelling and letter formation, to prevent mistakes from persisting in pupils’ work.

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an “open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility” and ensuring pupils are made safer and feel safe.