St Matthew's CofE Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 July 2022

Pupils are welcoming and polite. Those who are new to the school are helped to settle in and make friends quickly. Pupils are respectful and kind to each other. They know to speak out if anything makes them feel unhappy. Pupils' behaviour is sensible. Staff are quick to spot when any pupil becomes distracted. Staff resolve any rare incidents of bullying. Pupils are kept safe in school. Leaders have high expectations that pupils will achieve well. From the earliest opportunities, adults nurture children's appreciation of books. Pupils read regularly and enjoy class story time. Pupils talked about the books they are currently reading and what they liked about them. They are encouraged to persevere if they sometimes find their work tricky. Typically, pupils commented that they 'stick at it' and that teachers 'always help us'. Pupils are enthusiastic about and like their school. They like having lots to do. They socialise and have fun sharing play equipment at breaktimes and at the school's breakfast club. Pupils take part in after-school activities, such as multisports and chess club. Special events, such as educational outings and the recent science workshop, inspire pupils' interests and support their learning.

What the school should improve

• In a few subjects, assessment strategies do not link closely to the subject-specific curriculum content that has been taught. This means that teachers are not able to identify gaps in pupils' learning as accurately as in other subjects. Subject leaders should continue to develop their assessment systems in these subjects so that pupils who do not understand and remember key content receive the support they need to catch up.

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