St Anthony's Catholic Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 8 June 2022

The school motto of, 'Actions speak louder than words' shines through at this school. Staff and pupils know that they can make a difference, and they do. For example, pupils collected money and goods for children in Ukraine. Pupils enjoy attending school. They feel safe and know that teachers care for them. Parents agree. They appreciate what leaders do for pupils and say that the school is 'exceptional'. Pupils say that bullying rarely happens. They know that if it did, teachers would quickly step in. Pupils work hard and listen carefully to teachers. They show good manners and are polite. Older pupils show younger pupils how to behave well. Most pupils take part in everything the school does. Opportunities include visiting the reading bus, attending football finals in London and debating in the local council chamber. Pupils are taught not to give up, and that they can achieve highly. Leaders have ensured that staff are well trained. They support teachers to be the best that they can be. However, the impact of the pandemic has meant that some of their ideas to make teaching even better have slowed.

What the school should improve

• Leaders have not ensured that all teachers have a precise enough knowledge of how pupils will draw on current learning in future lessons. Consequently, pupils are unable to connect previous learning to current learning and what this is building towards. Leaders should ensure that all teachers securely understand the ambitious end points that pupils are working towards and that pupils remember the essential knowledge and understanding underpinning this.
• Leaders have not ensured that whole-school classroom strategies identify what pupils know and understand from new and previous learning. In addition, gaps in pupils' learning are not always recognised. Consequently, pupils do not always remember, long term, the important knowledge they need. Staff should make sure that the checks on pupils' work are used to inform subsequent adaptations to the curriculum.

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