St Michael's Roman Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy

Overview

St Michael’s Roman Catholic Primary School provides a “warm, welcoming” environment where pupils feel “safe and happy” and develop a “secure sense of belonging.” The report highlights a “very well-considered personal development programme” that enables pupils to “flourish both academically and in their life beyond school.” While most aspects of the school meet the expected standard, inconsistencies in the early years provision require attention.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate “positive attitudes to learning” and are “diligent, remain motivated and take pride in their work.”
• Disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs “achieve well,” with outcomes often exceeding national averages.
• Leaders “determinedly prioritise access to enrichment for disadvantaged pupils,” removing barriers to extra-curricular activities.
• The school fosters a culture where pupils “respect the different values, beliefs and backgrounds of others” and engage thoughtfully with current affairs.
• Staff show “kindness and care for their wellbeing,” creating a supportive environment where bullying is “very rare.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure that teacher-set work enables pupils to “deepen and apply their learning in all subjects.”
• Activities in the early years continuous provision must be “well matched to children’s learning and development needs.”
• Staff interactions across the early years provision need to be of a “consistently high quality.”

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an “open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility” and concerns are “actively identified, acted upon and managed.”