Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 18 March 2025

Pupils enjoy coming to school. The school prioritises the safety of its pupils. The curriculum provides opportunities for pupils to learn how to stay safe. For example, pupils learn how to stay safe online in the computing curriculum. School staff have positive relationships with pupils. They greet pupils warmly as they meet them throughout the school. There is a calm and orderly atmosphere in corridors. Pupils know that bullying can happen. However, they are confident that staff deal with this effectively so that it is not repeated. In classrooms, the behaviour of pupils can sometimes be distracting for others. Some pupils occasionally speak while teachers are giving instructions and shout out answers. This often goes unchecked. As a result, some pupils are not able to concentrate on their learning. The expectations that the school has of pupils are variable. The work that pupils produce is sometimes of a low quality. Handwriting is not developed well enough. This can make pupils' writing hard to read. In lessons, teachers do not carefully check how well pupils are doing. This means that pupils' misconceptions remain, and they repeat mistakes. Others find work too easy and become bored. As a result, some pupils do not make enough progress in their learning.

What the school should improve

• Teachers do not use the school's behaviour systems consistently enough in classrooms, allowing the negative behaviour of some pupils to disrupt learning. This means that some pupils cannot concentrate on their work. The school should ensure that staff consistently apply the school's systems for managing behaviour so that the number of incidents of disruptive behaviour is reduced.
• Teachers do not carefully check how well pupils are learning in lessons. This means that teachers do not know when some pupils need more help. They do not recognise that other pupils are finding work too easy. As a result, some pupils do not learn as well as they should. The school should ensure that teachers check learning carefully in lessons to provide further support or challenge.
• The school does not make thorough checks on the curriculum. This means that it cannot be sure that the curriculum is being taught as intended. The school does not know what needs to be done to improve learning in each subject. The school should ensure that thorough checks are made on each subject so that it knows exactly what needs to be done to make further improvements.
• Teachers do not consistently implement the school's detailed support plans for pupils with SEND. This means that some pupils with SEND do not get the support they need. As a result, they do not learn as well as they should. The school should ensure that pupils with SEND receive support that is well matched to the needs outlined in their support plans.

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