St Paul's CofE Primary School & Nursery

Overview

The report describes an inclusive school where ‘courage, compassion and community’ are central values, noting that pupils are ‘happy and feel safe and secure’. It highlights that the school has ensured a ‘broad and ambitious’ curriculum, with pupils ‘achieving well’ and benefiting from strong pastoral care. Overall effectiveness is judged as Good, reflecting positive changes under new leadership and a focus on pupil well-being.

Strengths

• The curriculum is ‘broad and ambitious’, with knowledge in subjects like mathematics and history ‘carefully sequenced and considered’.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are ‘fully included in all aspects of school life’ and receive ‘tailored support’.
• The early years provision is ‘welcoming and engaging’, with a ‘well organised and structured’ phonics programme starting in Reception.
• Staff are ‘very proud to work at this school’ and receive effective support for professional development and well-being.
• Parents are ‘overwhelmingly positive’ about the school, particularly regarding the ‘individual care shown to their children’.

Areas to improve

• A small group of pupils struggling to read are ‘not catching up as quickly as they could’, requiring further opportunities to read books matching known sounds.
• In a small number of subjects, curriculum delivery is ‘not yet taught consistently well’, risking gaps in pupils’ knowledge.
• A small group of pupils ‘disengage in lessons’ and show negative attitudes to learning, needing help to access learning opportunities.

Safeguarding

The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.