St Stephen's Church of England Primary School

Overview

Pupils “enjoy attending this school” and “achieve well” within a culture defined by “high expectations” and strong personal development. The inspection highlights an “ambitious curriculum” that effectively supports reading and vocabulary, though inconsistencies in subject planning hinder progress in specific areas.

Strengths

• Personal development is rated “Outstanding,” with pupils developing as “well-rounded youngsters” through clubs, leadership roles, and activities promoting “fundamental British values.”
• The curriculum places a “strong emphasis on developing pupils’ vocabulary and reading knowledge,” ensuring pupils, including those with additional needs, become “fluent readers.”
• Pupils display “good” behaviour, moving around the school “calmly and with purpose” while showing “great respect for each other and adults.”
• Leaders use assessment data to “identify gaps in pupils’ learning” and have “adapted the curriculum effectively” to address knowledge missed during pandemic restrictions.
• SEND pupils are swiftly identified and receive the “support that they need to succeed in their learning and wider development.”

Areas to improve

• In a “small number of subjects,” the order of teaching is unclear, preventing pupils from linking previous learning to “more complex concepts.”
• Some subject leaders are “new to their role” and lack the experience to “evaluate the impact of the subject curriculums effectively.”

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with staff receiving “frequent training” and using “well-established systems” to share concerns and protect pupils.