St Peter's Church of England Middle School

Overview

St Peter’s Church of England Middle School continues to be a good school, described as a “welcoming and nurturing” environment where pupils are known as individuals. The report highlights a “strong community feel” underpinned by values such as “Wisdom, Integrity, Trust, Compassion and Fellowship,” with leaders maintaining high expectations for pupil conduct.

Strengths

• Pupils behave “calmly and politely” and appreciate a wide range of opportunities, including clubs and trips that build “confidence, resilience and understanding of the wider world.”
• The curriculum is well-planned, with a “coherent journey” between key stages; in subjects like mathematics, leaders identify precise vocabulary to help pupils, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), learn well.
• Teachers generally possess “good subject knowledge,” explain concepts clearly, and check for understanding regularly.
• Reading is a priority, with targeted support in phonics and comprehension helping pupils develop “reading fluency well.”
• There is a “culture of safeguarding vigilance,” with an experienced team, thorough recruitment checks, and effective liaison with external partners.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure effective strategies are in place to support the “small minority of pupils” who do not always behave respectfully, as this negatively impacts the school’s atmosphere.
• Leaders must strengthen teaching expertise across all subjects, as a “small minority of teachers” do not yet use the most appropriate strategies, causing some pupils to achieve less well.
• The precise vocabulary approach used in mathematics should be extended across all subjects to ensure consistency.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff feeling confident to report concerns and pupils being taught how to keep themselves safe.