St Petroc's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

Overview

St Petroc’s is described as a “strong and improving school” where leaders have taken “effective action to address the weaknesses” identified at the previous inspection. The report highlights an “ambitious” curriculum and high expectations, resulting in pupils who “typically learn the curriculum well” and show “positive attitudes to their learning.”

Strengths

• Pupils “learn an ambitious, coherently sequenced curriculum with success in most subjects,” particularly in reading where they “read fluently and with joy.”
• Staff make lessons “interesting, lively and meaningful,” creating a “family-oriented, inclusive” environment where bullying is “rare.”
• Attendance has “improved rapidly” and is now “in line with national averages” due to effective collaboration with families and agencies.
• Pupils’ “personal development is promoted and provided for successfully,” with plentiful opportunities to develop leadership skills and learn about social and moral issues.

Areas to improve

• The writing curriculum asks pupils to “attempt to write too much too soon,” meaning some do not secure transcription skills like letter formation and punctuation before tackling creative tasks.
• Processes for identifying pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are “not as effective as they should be,” leading to some needs going unidentified or unsupported.

Safeguarding

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