St Walburga's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy

Overview

This ungraded inspection confirms that St Walburga’s Catholic Primary School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The school fosters a “positive and supportive culture” where pupils are “polite, respectful and well mannered.” Leaders are committed to ensuring the “best possible outcomes for all pupils” within an inclusive environment.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “ambitious and consistently structured,” with teachers using “precise vocabulary” to extend pupils’ thinking.
• Phonics is taught “consistently by well-trained adults,” and misconceptions are “quickly addressed.”
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are “quickly identified” and access the “same ambitious curriculum.”
• Behaviour is described as “excellent throughout the school,” with pupils behaving “sensibly” and listening well.
• The early years environment is a “calm, purposeful and engaging space” where children are “confident, engaged, and excited to learn.”

Areas to improve

• The school must improve its approach to teaching handwriting, as some pupils “do not have the knowledge to be able to form their letters accurately.”
• Communication systems require review because “some parents do not feel fully informed about key updates and activities that happen in school.”

Safeguarding

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