St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School

Overview

This ungraded inspection confirms that St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School “continues to be a good school.” Pupils are “well cared for by staff” and benefit from “strong relationships” that help them feel “settled and safe.” The school fosters a positive environment where pupils “behave well,” are “keen to learn,” and achieve well across all subjects, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Strengths

• Staff warmly welcome pupils, creating a happy atmosphere where children “act kindly towards one another” and enjoy a “plethora of additional activities.”
• Leaders have established a “broad and balanced curriculum” with “strong subject knowledge” among teachers who effectively address misconceptions.
• Reading is prioritised successfully; “almost all pupils become confident and fluent readers by the end of Year 2,” with effective support for those finding it difficult.
• Pupils with SEND are identified early and “learn well across all subjects,” remaining “fully involved in school life.”
• Staff feel “well supported by leaders to manage their workload,” and governors provide appropriate “support and challenge.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure staff are fully equipped to deliver the new phonics programme, as some currently “move on to teaching new sounds before some pupils are ready,” hindering progress.
• Leaders need to clarify the “essential knowledge” and sequence of learning in a small number of subjects so pupils can “build logically on what they know already.”

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” with staff trained to recognise signs of harm and clear processes in place to act swiftly on concerns.