St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Birkenhead

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 1 November 2022

Pupils, and children in early years, love coming to school. They are happy and safe. Pupils enjoy learning and finding out new things with their friends. They know that they can talk to any member of staff if they are sad or worried. On the very rare occasions on which bullying occurs, it is reported and leaders deal with it effectively. Pupils are very welcoming to visitors. They are respectful to adults and each other. Pupils learn about various faiths, cultures and traditions. They told inspectors that people should not be treated differently because of what they look like or where they are from. Pupils are active citizens who care about their community. Members of the school choir regularly sing in the church and at celebration events. Pupils raise funds for many charities, including a local food bank and a hospital. They enjoy visits to museums, theatres, Chester and a nearby beach. Pupils respond well to the high expectations that staff have of their behaviour and achievement. This helps to ensure that the school is calm and purposeful, and that pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well in different areas of the curriculum. Children in early years also learn well.

What the school should improve

• The curriculum has not been finalised. In some subjects, leaders have not established exactly what pupils should learn and by when. This hinders how well some pupils acquire new knowledge and skills. Leaders should finalise their curriculum thinking to ensure that all staff know what to teach and when across all subjects.
• In a small number of subjects, subject leaders do not have the subject knowledge that they need to help teachers to improve how they deliver the curriculum. This means that the support that they give to teachers is not as effective as it should be. In addition, some pupils are not learning the curriculum as well as they should. Senior leaders should ensure that subject leaders receive the training and guidance that they need to support teachers to deliver the curriculum more effectively in these subjects.

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