English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 22 March 2023

English Martyrs' Catholic Primary is an inclusive and welcoming school. Pupils enjoy coming to school and speak of it with pride. They value the many opportunities that they have to work together. Pupils contribute keenly to their school and the wider community. Leaders have high expectations for all pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils respond to these expectations by working hard, behaving well and looking after each other. However, despite leaders' work to improve pupils' attendance, some pupils do not attend school regularly enough. Pupils are happy and safe in school. They have good relationships with staff and each other. Pupils do not worry about bullying. They know that if they have any problems, staff will sort things out for them. Pupils understand about their rights and their responsibilities to each other and to the environment. They know that everyone is equal. Staff encourage pupils to reflect on their own beliefs and to develop their social skills. Pupils attend a wide range of clubs, including Spanish, gardening, music and multi- skills. Pupils share a love of reading with staff and each other and enjoy the wide variety of books available to them.

What the school should improve

• The attendance of some pupils remains stubbornly low. This is despite leaders' rigorous attempts to improve it. This means that these pupils are not able to benefit from the wide range of opportunities that the school offers. Leaders should continue to work with parents and families so that they understand the importance of pupils attending regularly.
• Leaders' use of assessment in the foundation subjects is under development. As a result, it is unclear how leaders and teachers use checks on what pupils have learned to identify any gaps in pupils' knowledge. Leaders should continue to refine their use of assessment in the foundation subjects so that it accurately identifies gaps in pupils' knowledge, to help teachers to adapt pupils' subsequent learning.
• Some staff do not adapt their practice so that pupils develop their knowledge and skills as well as they could. This means that some teachers do not identify pupils who are ready to have their knowledge deepened. Leaders should develop teachers' pedagogical knowledge so that they are better able to adapt pupils' learning, engage all learners and challenge those who are ready to move on.

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