St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 11 October 2023

Pupils and staff at St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School embody the school's vision of 'small school, big heart, learning and growing together'. The buddy relationships between Years 5 and 6 pupils and the children in early years and key stage 1 are warm and considerate. The older pupils nurture and care for the younger children at playtime, over lunch and in collective worship. The school has clear behaviour expectations. Pupils understand the stepped approach and are proud when they achieve a 'wow' sticker. There are supportive relationships between staff and pupils. Pupils are safe and will approach any adult if they have worries. Pupils are confident that adults listen and help resolve their concerns. The school provides pupils with leadership opportunities, such as collective worship monitors, play and digital leaders. This develops pupils' independence, resilience and organisation skills. There is a strong connection with the local church. Pupils participate in community events, like the harvest festival and the Christmas service. The school recognises that the community it serves is not diverse. Consequently, it ensures that pupils experience a range of cultures and world beliefs. Years 5 and 6 pupils enjoy the opportunity to attend an outdoor adventure residential. Pupils speak positively about 'facing their fears', which they experienced when free falling from a high-wire swing!

What the school should improve

• The school do not have an effective system for checking pupils' knowledge across the wider curriculum. This means that gaps in pupils' knowledge are not identified. The school should ensure that they use their checks on pupils' knowledge across the curriculum to influence future curriculum thinking.
• Some aspects of the wider curriculum are not fully developed. In some subjects, the school does not have a clear understanding of the knowledge and skills that pupils need to learn. The school should ensure that they refine their curriculum thinking so that pupils learn well across all areas of the curriculum.
• The school has not ensured that staff receive sufficient training and time to monitor the impact of their subject. As a result, the school does not know if the curriculum is being delivered in the way it intended. The school should ensure that more training and monitoring happens so they can make judgements about the quality of the education it is providing.

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