St Joseph's Catholic Primary School - a Catholic voluntary academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 4 May 2023

Pupils are friendly, happy and feel safe in this school. Leaders strive to make the school a place where everyone can succeed. Pupils who join St Joseph's in key stage 2, having had difficult educational experiences elsewhere, are supported exceptionally well. Their future educational opportunities are transformed. Pupils enjoy learning from a wide range extra-curricular clubs. Activities such as boxercise, cooking and archery are well attended by all. Leaders encourage teachers to use the many opportunities in the local area to support the curriculum. Pupils benefit from trips, including to Dalby Forest and a steam train journey to Goathland. Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school; the school is a calm and orderly. This is because all adults have high expectations and pupils know what is expected of them. Where pupils make poor behaviour choices, adults support them skilfully to make better choices next time. All pupils know one another in this close school community. Pupils know to speak to adults should they have any concerns. They trust staff to listen to them if they have any worries. Bullying is rare. If any incidents of bullying do occur, pupils know that adults will deal with it quickly and effectively. Parents and carers are hugely positive about the school. They feel that their children are supported effectively under the care of the headteacher and school staff.

What the school should improve

• Leaders lack detailed knowledge about the impact of the curriculum on pupils' learning, including pupils with SEND. This prevents leaders from accurately evaluating the effectiveness of the curriculum, its implementation and identifying where improvements could be made. Leaders should develop systems to support subject leaders, and those with responsibility for SEND, allowing greater understanding of the effectiveness of the curriculum.
• Pupils generally achieve well. However, in some subjects, teaching does not sufficiently match pupils' needs. This is, in part, because teachers are not always confident to step away from the suggested timings in curriculum plans. As a result, pupils are sometimes moved on to new learning before they are ready. Leaders should ensure that teachers feel confident in their ability to accurately assess whether pupils are ready to 'move on', and to make appropriate adjustments to their teaching as a result.

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