St John's Church of England Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 9 June 2026

Pupils enjoy attending this small, close-knit school where there is a clear sense of community and joy. Staff and pupils work and learn together in a calm and purposeful environment. The school’s Christian values, including respect and truthfulness, guide everyday life at the school and help staff set high expectations for pupils’ behaviour and learning. Staff make every effort to ensure that pupils feel welcome, safe and supported. Practical support, such as the uniform store and foodbank, reflects leaders’ deep understanding of their community. Pastoral care is central to the school’s work and helps pupils feel secure, valued and ready to learn. Pupils’ attainment has improved, particularly in mathematics, where results are in line with the national average. Disadvantaged pupils also achieve well. However, pupils’ results in reading, phonics and writing are less consistent. In these areas, some pupils do not achieve as well as they could or develop the knowledge and skills that they need for the next stage of their education. Pupils behave well and enjoy school. Bullying is not tolerated and dealt with swiftly if it does occur. From the early years, pupils are encouraged to be themselves and take pride in their work. Classrooms are purposeful and pupils show kindness and consideration towards each other. Relationships between staff and pupils are warm and respectful. Pupils' attendance is positive. When it falls below expectations, staff act quickly and work closely with families to support regular attendance. Pupils are proud of their school, especially its sporting successes. They enjoy a wide range of clubs and activities and are encouraged to try new experiences as well as build their existing skills and talents. Opportunities to take on responsibility, such as pupil leadership roles, help pupils to grow in confidence. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are fully included in all aspects of school life.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that staff have the training that they need to deliver the curriculum consistently well, including in the early years.
• Leaders should ensure that staff consistently identify pupils’ errors and misconceptions and support pupils to address these.
• Leaders should ensure that pupils achieve consistently well in reading, writing and mathematics, including in the early years, so pupils are better prepared for their next stages of education.
• Leaders, including those responsible for governance, should strengthen their oversight and challenge to ensure that the actions they take to bring about improvement are precise and timely.

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