St Mary's CofE Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 9 November 2022

Pupils are happy and safe at this school. They describe the atmosphere here as being kind and caring. Leaders strive to provide pupils with the education and social skills they need to prosper in life. Their work is underpinned by the school's values. Leaders succeed in these endeavours and pupils achieve well. From the moment children join the Nursery, they are taught to respect all people. This continues throughout their time in school. Staff emphasise that all people are equal, no matter their background, faith, or individual circumstances. Pupils get on well with their classmates. They enjoy strong working relationships with adults. Pupils make an important contribution to ensuring that all can learn and play in a calm and purposeful manner. This is achieved, for example, through the work of pupil-elected peer mediators and anti-bullying ambassadors. Should bullying occur, leaders take effective action. As appropriate to each case, they sanction, support and reconcile the parties involved. Pupils relish the many enrichment clubs on offer. These range from drama, multiple sports, boxing, choir and chess. The curriculum is also enhanced with many visits, such as to various museums and a fire station. Older pupils attend a residential retreat, which aims to enhance their team-building skills.

What the school should improve

• Owing to some recent changes to curriculum leadership and design, there are a few inconsistencies in curriculum thinking and implementation. This means that although pupils achieve well overall across the subjects, in some curriculum areas they do not routinely build up detailed knowledge over time. Leaders should draw on the strongest practice already in the school. They should ensure and assure that any inconsistencies are ironed out, so that pupils routinely achieve highly across all subjects.

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