Holy Ghost Catholic Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 June 2024

The school has high expectations of its pupils. Pupils achieve exceedingly well in national tests for reading and mathematics, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). In the early years, children get off to an excellent start, particualrly in developing a wide, rich vocabulary and strong early writing skills. Pupils are exceptionally courteous and caring. They make a strong contribution to this safe and happy school. For instance, in Years 5 and 6, pupils act as buddies for children in Reception and Year 1. They help to ensure that younger pupils enjoy breaktime and check on their wellbeing. Pupils of all ages play harmoniously together. Pupils take up responsiblities widely, regularly contributing to their school and local communities. For instance, children in the early years help to tidy up, pupils in Year 4 collect clothing donations for charity and in Year 6, pupils support a homeless shelter. The school broadens pupils' experiences through an ambitious extracurricular programme of visits, clubs and special events. One highlight is a careers fair which introduces pupils to a range of professions. The school's extensive work to develop pupils' talents and interests includes a strong focus on sports which are popular. All pupils from Year 3 onwards regularly represent their school in sporting events.

What the school should improve

• Some areas of the curriculum are less well developed than others. In places, the key concepts that pupils need to remember for future learning are less clearly defined than in other subjects. As a result, teaching, including the work pupils are given, does not focus on helping pupils to recall those concepts securely and sometimes pupils may forget them. The school should ensure that the key concepts that pupils need to know are prioritised in curriculum planning and that teaching focuses on helping pupils to remember key content.
• In some instances, the school does not identify misconceptions and gaps in pupils' knowledge and correct them. As a result, there are gaps in pupils' knowledge in some areas of the curriculum. The school should ensure that pupils' knoweldge is checked systematically so that gaps and misconceptions can be identified and swiftly addressed.

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