St Johns Church of England Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 23 January 2024

St John's is a diverse school where pupils feel valued and respected. This is evident through the strong, caring relationships between staff and pupils. The school has created a culture of mutual respect through its Christian ethos and values. Pupils are proud of their school and enjoy engaging in discussions about learning and visits to the local community. These include visits to the university and a local independent school, as well as nature walks. Pupils feel safe at school and have adults they trust to talk to about any worries. Pupils understand what bullying is and how to report any concerns should they arise. Pupils reflect on their behaviour and the behaviour of others. They talk with confidence about how to identify and manage their emotions. For pupils who find this difficult, skilled staff help and support them. Pupils happily work in an engaging, well-resourced learning environment. The introduction of new books and reading awards has been positively received by pupils. The school is on a journey to ensure that its increased ambition is fully reflected in pupils' achievements. Pupils are learning increasingly well, but some variability remains. The school is determinedly focused on continuing to support all pupils so they achieve strongly across the curriculum.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, staff do not identify pupils' gaps in understanding or routinely revisit earlier learning. This means that some pupils do not remember important knowledge over time. The school needs to support staff to use the information from checks on pupils' learning to inform future teaching and support pupils to achieve highly across the curriculum.
• Not all pupils have previously learned to read quickly enough. This means that some pupils have not developed into fluent and accurate readers as reflected in the most recent published outcomes. The school should continue its work to prioritise the teaching of reading so that all pupils swiftly learn to read accurately and with confidence.
• School attendance is low for some pupils. Low attendance means that pupils are missing out on important learning for their future. The school should continue to work with families so that all pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, attend school regularly.

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