St John With St Michael Church of England Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 March 2023

Pupils, including children in the early years, feel safe and happy in this friendly school. They comment that they enjoy coming to school. Pupils get on well with their classmates and teachers. If fallouts or instances of bullying occur, leaders make sure they are dealt with quickly and effectively. Leaders expect pupils to live up to the school's LIGHT values, which includes love, generosity and togetherness. Pupils are proud of the work they have done to create attractive displays that remind everyone of these values. Their good behaviour matches their teachers' high expectations. As a result, learning around school proceeds with few interruptions. Leaders want all pupils to do well. They have developed a broad and balanced curriculum. Most pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well during their time at the school. Pupils enjoy taking on various roles and responsibilities, such as being members of the 'pupil parliament'. They also relish having the chance to represent their school in local sports competitions, including football and table tennis. Pupils take advantage of the variety of enrichment activities on offer. They like attending after-school clubs, going on school trips and taking part in residential visits. Pupils also enjoy playing their part in community events, such as making links with a local care home.

What the school should improve

• In a small number of subjects, leaders have not set out the precise content they want pupils to learn or the order in which this content should be learned. In these subjects, pupils' learning is less secure. Leaders need to ensure that their curriculum thinking in these subjects provides staff with the same clear guidance that is in place in other areas of the curriculum, ensuring that pupils are better able to learn and remember more of what they are taught.
• In some subjects, older pupils' learning is hindered by gaps in their knowledge. This is because weaknesses in their previous learning have not allowed them to know more and remember more of the curriculum. Leaders need to ensure that staff use assessment strategies effectively to better identify and address these gaps in pupils' previous knowledge so that pupils are building new learning on more secure footing.

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