St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Chipping

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 9 June 2026

Pupils feel safe at this school because they know leaders and staff care deeply about them. Whenever a pupil is the slightest bit worried about any aspect of their life, leaders and staff make extra time to listen to them and provide effective support. Pupils find that leaders and staff think about them as an individual and celebrate their interests and successes. This is a school where pupils can be themselves and feel that they belong. Generally, pupils’ behaviour is calm, positive and considerate. Leaders and staff deal quickly and effectively with bullying. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, enjoy their learning. They want to be there, and they attend often. Pupils also do not want to miss out on spending time with their many friends. Pupils’ learning activities include working with local volunteers to grow fruit and vegetables in the school’s well-tended allotment. They do this while studying summertime birds, such as the screaming swifts and twittering swallows that fly overhead around the village. Generally, pupils at the school attain well in national assessments of their knowledge. However, on occasion, children’s achievement is held back by variability in the quality of some teaching. Sometimes, pupils do not learn to think deeply or to play a full part in their learning activities. At times, some children’s and pupils’ writing skills do not develop effectively enough. Staff help children in the early years to talk with confidence, including about the beautiful scenery of Chipping and nearby Longridge Fell. Pupils who face difficulties in their learning receive skilful extra support from staff, which helps them to achieve well. Pupils are proud of the school’s Catholic character. They learn to have genuine regard for other people, families and communities. Nevertheless, pupils’ understanding of fundamental British values is less developed than it could be.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that staff select and use tasks that develop pupils’ thinking and participation in lessons effectively.
• Leaders should make sure that pupils, including children in the early years, develop their knowledge of the basics of handwriting, spelling, punctuation and grammar, so they can communicate their ideas and understanding accurately.
• Leaders should build pupils’ knowledge of fundamental British values so they fully understand how these connect to the broader values of their day-to-day lives at the school.

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