St John's CofE Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 19 April 2023

Pupils enjoy attending St John's. Pupils want to achieve the best they can, and support each other to do this. They aim to reach the high expectations staff have for them. They achieve well. Pupils enjoy celebrating each other's successes at regular events and see the importance of these. Pupils behave well throughout the school. In lessons, pupils are attentive and respectful. They listen to adults and participate enthusiastically in learning activities. Older pupils mentor younger pupils. They help to welcome them to the school and involve them in activities during social times. Bullying rarely happens. If it does happen, pupils are confident that staff will deal with it promptly. Pupils know if they are worried about something, they have trusted adults in the school they can discuss this with. Pupils feel safe at school. There are rich and varied opportunities that pupils take part in outside of lessons. These enhance what pupils learn about in the curriculum. For example, pupils have hatched a family of ducks and take responsibility in caring for them, this helps them learn more about animals and how they develop.

What the school should improve

• The phonics programme is newly implemented. Some teachers are still developing teaching strategies to ensure all pupils recognise groups of letters and the sounds they make. This slows their progress in becoming fluent, accurate readers. Leaders should ensure they provide clear guidance and support to all staff so that teachers consistently make effective choices in teaching all elements of leaders' chosen phonics programme.

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