St Michael and All Angels Catholic Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 20 February 2024

Pupils enjoy attending this friendly and inclusive school. One pupil accurately portrayed the views of many when describing the school as “one big family where we build each other up”. Parents agree. They value the communication they have with staff about their child. Pupils are looked after by kind staff who know them well. Pupils increasingly benefit from the work that the school is doing to strengthen the quality of education. Where leaders have focused their attention over time, such as improving the teaching of early reading, pupils make strong progress. Pupils live by the school motto to 'love, achieve, believe and succeed'. It shapes their good behaviour and their kindness towards others. Pupils are not worried about bullying. They know that it rarely happens and that staff will quickly address any concerns that they have. Pupils have different opportunities to broaden their horizons and link their learning to the wider world. Trips to the Yorkshire wildlife park and local museums have proven to be memorable, as was the whole-school visit to the Christmas pantomime. Some pupils have leadership roles in school and speak proudly of the work they have done to help both leaders and their friends. Librarians are keen to talk about their areas of responsibility while play leaders enjoy helping others at social times.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, important knowledge is not sufficiently highlighted to pupils. There are not enough opportunities to revisit this information so that pupils can recall it over time. As a result, pupils have some gaps in their knowledge, which slows the progress that they make. The school should ensure that ongoing curriculum developments enable pupils to learn well in all subjects so that they are even better prepared for their next steps.
• Processes to check how well pupils have learned important knowledge are not fully developed. Assessment is not being used as well as it could be to understand how well some subjects are being taught, or to inform curriculum improvements. The school should ensure that assessment is used effectively in all subjects so that any changes needed can be implemented, and outcomes for pupils improve further.
• At times, leaders at all levels, including governors, are not looking at their area of responsibility or subject strategically enough. There are not the rigorous checks to provide assurance of the school's work, including the impact of the curriculum beyond key performance measures. The school should ensure that all leaders are supported to develop a more strategic approach to their work, so that sensible steps can be taken to accelerate the pace of school improvement.

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