Our Lady's Catholic Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 31 January 2024

The school, alongside the trust, have prioritised the development of the curriculum and systems to support pupils' behaviour. However, it is early days. Some pupils do not attend regularly enough to benefit from these developments. Pupils, particularly the most disadvantaged, do not recall the school's curriculum with increasing fluency. Pupils know that adults will listen to any worries or concerns they may have. They understand that the new school behaviour systems are fair. The 'I can and I will' celebration assemblies help pupils to develop their understanding of how to be a good learner. Most pupils are well mannered and courteous. They like their teachers. They enjoy participating in events such as visits to the pantomime and performing in school productions. Pupils appreciate the roles and responsibilities they have such as eco- warriors and the well-being champions. The wide range of after-school clubs helps pupils to participate in different sports, arts and musical activities. Where needed, the school ensures all pupils can access these activities. Every week, children in the early years enjoy sharing a 'book and biscuit' with a family member. This has helped some parents and carers to understand how to help their child at home.

What the school should improve

• After a period of turbulence, leaders have set ambitious plans for pupils in school. However, these ambitions are not yet fully realised. This means that not all pupils, particularly the most disadvantaged, reach their full potential and are not completely prepared for their next stage in education. The school must ensure that all pupils receive a high-quality education through strong, shared values, policies and systems.
• New systems for promoting behaviour and attendance have been recently introduced. Many of these are not yet fully embedded which means some pupils have not yet fully benefited from these approaches. The school must ensure that it fully implements the new systems for attendance, behaviour and attitudes so they impact positively on pupil outcomes.
• The school's curriculum is implemented inconsistently. Sometimes staff do not address pupils' misconceptions. At other times, the curriculum is not taught with accuracy. This limits the progress pupils, particularly the most disadvantaged, make. The school must make checks to ensure the curriculum is implemented as intended. It must ensure that all staff have the expertise to teach it.

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