St Thomas' Catholic Primary School, Canterbury

Overview

Leaders maintain high expectations, fostering a culture where pupils are “polite, respectful and considerate” and achieve well in core subjects. The school is described as “welcoming and friendly,” with strong faith values and inclusive practices that make pupils feel safe and valued.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate “exceptionally strong” behaviour and attitudes, showing “real kindness” and playing “harmoniously and independently.”
• There is a “very well-planned approach to teaching reading,” with a new phonics programme ensuring children learn to read from Reception.
• Pupils are “keen and confident mathematicians” who achieve well across the curriculum, particularly in English and mathematics.
• Staff provide “high-quality support” for pupils with English as an additional language, strengthening comprehension across subjects.
• Leaders prioritise personal development through enrichment opportunities, such as learning musical instruments and accessing local history and art.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should refine the curriculum in a “small number of foundation subjects” where planning lacks precision, leading to less secure knowledge recall.
• Staff must use agreed systems consistently to log welfare concerns and behavioural changes, ensuring leaders have “timely or comprehensive information” about vulnerable pupils.
• The offer of extra-curricular clubs is “currently quite limited” and should be expanded to allow pupils to fully develop their talents and interests.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, although leaders must ensure all staff use reporting systems appropriately to provide timely information about pupils at risk.