St Peter's Church of England First School

Overview

The inspection found that St Peter’s Church of England First School is in a position of “much greater stability” following a period of positive change. Pupils “thrive” and become “confident and determined individuals” due to strong relationships and high expectations. The school provides a “Good” quality of education, with effective leadership and management supporting this success.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “ambitious and well-sequenced,” ensuring children in early years get off to a “strong start” and build learning with “increasing success.”
• Reading is a clear priority; pupils develop phonic knowledge well and become “fluent and confident readers” through a culture that promotes a “love of reading.”
• Provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is a “strength,” with staff expertise ensuring needs are “well understood and met effectively.”
• Pupils behave well, are “polite and welcoming,” and take pride in roles of responsibility such as “sports leaders” and “school chaplains.”
• Governors have “in-depth knowledge” of the school, providing a “balance of support and challenge” to empower the school.

Areas to improve

• The curriculum in some subjects is “not as well-embedded” as others, meaning pupils “do not retain as much of their learning over time” in these areas.
• There is a “disparity in the views and understanding” of how the school manages behaviour and bullying, requiring the trust to ensure the whole community understands the policy.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”