St Matthew's Church of England Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 27 June 2023

Pupils enjoy learning at this caring primary school. Staff forge strong, supportive relationships with pupils. Leaders take prompt and effective action to resolve any bullying issues or unkind behaviour. This helps pupils to feel safe, well cared for and happy. Pupils respond well to leaders' high expectations of their behaviour. They usually behave well in the classroom, in the playground and around the school. They told inspectors that leaders' recent changes to the behaviour policy have helped everyone to understand the rules and to be ready to learn. Pupils cooperate well with one another. Children in the Reception Year through to pupils in Year 6, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), enjoy learning and achieve well. They live up to leaders' high expectations. Pupils appreciate the range of opportunities that are available to them. This includes visits and after-school clubs, such as yoga, choir practice and sports club. Pupils value people's differences. For example, they particularly enjoyed learning about people from other countries and cultures in their world languages day. Pupils like to make a difference to the school and to make it the best it can be. For example, they enjoyed voting for their favourite piece of play equipment. They also value their roles as mental health ambassadors and play leaders.

What the school should improve

• In a few subjects, pupils do not have enough opportunities to revisit and embed earlier learning. This means that some pupils are not fully secure in the knowledge and understanding that leaders intend them to gain. Leaders should ensure that pupils recall key learning so that pupils know and remember more over time.
• Some staff in the early years do not have the expertise to deepen children's knowledge in some areas of learning. This means that, in these areas of learning, some children in the early years are not as well prepared for their next stage of education as they should be. Leaders should ensure that staff deliver the curriculum in the early years equally well so that children are fully prepared for the challenges of key stage 1.

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