St. Mary's Catholic Junior School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 12 September 2023

Pupils enjoy being part of the 'St Mary's family' at this friendly school. The school has high expectations of all pupils. Pupils are taught to be kind to others and try their best in their studies. Pupils rise to this challenge. They listen carefully to their teachers, tackle new learning diligently and treat others with consideration. The school organises enriching opportunities for pupils. All pupils enjoy weekly swimming lessons and many attend after-school swimming club. Outings to museums and local places of interest extend pupils' learning, for example about different species of animals, dinosaurs and fossils. Pupils sing together in regular hymn practice and the school's choir performs at key events. Pupils readily take up roles of responsibility, including as school council members who regularly raise funds for a range of charities. Year 6 pupil 'prayer partners' support their buddies in Year 3 to settle when they join the school. Parents and carers appreciate the school's family feel and efforts to make everyone in its community feel included through regular communication, assemblies and the summer fair.

What the school should improve

• Where recent revisions to some areas of the curriculum are less well established, teaching focuses on activities, rather than the important knowledge that pupils should learn. As a result, pupils' understanding of some key content is less secure than in other subjects and pupils find it difficult to recall that knowledge confidently. The school should ensure that teaching uses the most effective methods to help pupils remember important knowledge.
• In some cases, the school does not check pupils' understanding systematically against the aims of the curriculum. As a result, pupils' misunderstandings or misconceptions are missed and not addressed as swiftly as they might be. The school should ensure that teachers check pupils' understanding systematically against the curriculum content they have studied so that any misconceptions and gaps in their knowledge can be identified and addressed effectively.
• The school keeps comprehensive records, but at present these are organised across several systems. As a result, the school does not monitor systematically how effectively the school's work is being undertaken in some areas to identify further priorities for improvement. This also presents a risk that important issues may be overlooked. The school should review and improve systems of recording and using information in order to give a clearer oversight of the school's work.

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