Christ Church CofE Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 10 February 2026

This small, inner-city school extends a warm and caring welcome to all pupils and their families. The school provides a safe and secure environment in which pupils can learn and succeed. Pupils enjoy school life, behave extremely well and love to learn. Overall, they attend well. Recent improvements to the curriculum and teaching are supporting pupils to achieve increasingly well. At breaktimes, the school's playground resounds with the 29 different languages spoken by its pupils. Many pupils arrive with little or no English and leave Year 6 with a high degree of proficiency. Barriers to learning, such as language and communication, are very effectively addressed so that all pupils benefit fully from the school's offer. Pupils' individual differences are acknowledged, respected and celebrated. Pupils learn from each other and from each other's heritage. The school's book stock has been carefully chosen to address issues that pupils may meet, or may have already met, locally, nationally or internationally. This helps to prepare pupils well for life beyond school. The curriculum is enhanced greatly by educational visits. Pupils meet poets and authors at local theatres. They explore Victorian tunnels used as air-raid shelters during the Second World War. Pupils learn about computing at a university, sing at the cathedral and visit places of worship, such as mosques and gurdwaras, to strengthen their knowledge of world religions. Pupils become steeped in the culture of the local area. Relationships are developed well. Pupils are highly respectful towards each other, and instances of poor behaviour, or bullying, are very rare. Leaders and staff support pupils and their families skilfully. Many pupils arrive and leave in the middle of the school year. They thrive because of the individual and bespoke support they receive. Pupils' academic and social needs are met well and they develop a sense of belonging.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that the new phonics programme is fully embedded and effectively delivered, so that pupils learn to read as quickly and accurately as possible.
• Leaders should continue to strengthen their attendance systems and procedures to ensure pupils’ punctuality improves.
• Leaders should ensure that children in the early years have sufficient opportunities to practise the basic knowledge and skills needed to form letters and numbers correctly.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)