Hanley Swan St Gabriel's with St Mary's CofE Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 29 April 2025

Pupils eagerly attend this school. They say it is 'fantastic' and would highly recommend it to others. They told inspectors that attending the school is like being part of 'one big family'. Pupils embrace all that is on offer because they know their day will be engaging and enjoyable. Relationships and respect are strengths of the school. Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. Classrooms are calm and purposeful. Pupils listen attentively and fully focus on their learning. Pupils move around the school courteously and play well together in the playground. Pupils are motivated to do their best. They rise to the high expectations that the school has for them and achieve well in national assessments for reading, writing and mathematics. From the early years upwards, pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have the adjustments made that they need to access the learning environment successfully. Pupils are well prepared for the next stage in their education. A rich range of wider opportunities enhance and further the curriculum. Pupils benefit from the varied extra-curricular clubs and trips. These are thoughtfully planned alongside the curriculum and mean that pupils learn about life in the wider world beyond their own experience. The sporting offer for all pupils is a particular strength.

What the school should improve

• In some foundation subjects, the school does not always check effectively that pupils secure the most important knowledge they need. This means that some pupils' knowledge gaps and misconceptions remain, which hampers their ability to build their knowledge of these subjects securely over time. The school should ensure that all assessment activity precisely identifies gaps in pupils' learning so pupils make good progress through the curriculum.

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