St Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School

Overview

Pupils are described as “enthusiastic about learning” and become “confident, resilient learners” who are well prepared for the next stage of their education. The school fosters a “caring ethos” where pupils are respectful, bullying is rare, and parents are “overwhelmingly positive” about the provision.

Strengths

• Leaders have implemented a “well-considered and ambitious curriculum” that is equally ambitious for all pupils across a broad range of subjects.
• Teachers are “knowledgeable about the subjects that they teach” and routinely check pupils’ understanding before moving on to new learning.
• Reading is “celebrated across the school,” with a systematic phonics programme helping early years and key stage 1 pupils become “confident and fluent readers.”
• The curriculum promotes personal development well, teaching pupils about “tolerance and respect” and how to be “active and responsible citizens.”
• Staff are mindful of workload and well-being, and governors assure themselves that leaders’ work is making a “positive difference for all pupils.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure all staff receive the training needed to support less-confident readers in key stage 2, as current support is not having as much impact on reading fluency as it could.
• Leaders should provide guidance to ensure all early years staff are confident in extending children’s learning through “purposeful play,” as some aspects of the curriculum are not implemented consistently well.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff receiving regular training and being alert to signs of abuse, while leaders act promptly and work closely with other agencies to support vulnerable children.