St John the Baptist CofE Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 June 2023

Pupils are proud to attend this inclusive, welcoming and diverse school. They comment that 'sometimes we take for granted just how great this school is.' The school's values of forgiveness, resilience, love, koinonia and compassion permeate throughout the school. Pupils know they are in safe hands. Pupils behave extremely well in lessons and around school. They understand the school's rules. They believe that they are fair. In some lessons, such as science, pupils comment that they 'Get loud because we are excited, but we are allowed to be bouncy because we are enjoying learning.' Pupils know what bullying is. They say that bullying is rare. They express great confidence in their teachers to resolve bullying should it occur. There are many ways for pupils to tell adults should someone be mean to them. Pupils particularly appreciate the worry bear and worry box in their classrooms. Pupils' learning is enriched. The parent and teachers' group fundraise to broaden pupils' experiences. Recently, the circus came to the school grounds. Pupils said, 'Learning is fun and exciting; every day we have a blast!'

What the school should improve

• Curriculum planning in a few foundation subjects is not as well developed as in others. It is not as well structured. There is insufficient focus on the knowledge that pupils need to learn. Leaders should continue to ensure that the curriculum is ambitious and well structured. They should ensure that pupils secure the expert knowledge and skills they need across all the subjects studied.

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