St Michael Catholic Primary School & Nursery

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 May 2024

Expectations of what pupils can achieve are high here. Pupils know this. They listen to their teachers and their peers with respect. Pupils relish the challenges that staff set and work hard to be better in all they do. They love the opportunities they are given to go beyond the expected. Pupils' academic achievements are impressive. Their performances, on and off stage, are enthusiastic and often polished. Older pupils enjoy whole-class tuition on a range of instruments. Trumpets, guitars, clarinets (with an occasional squeak), all feature in day-to-day life here. Younger pupils revel in opportunities such as producing their own opera based on Mozart's 'The Magic Flute'. Playtimes are purposeful. Pupils' choices are manyfold. Maybe they will choose the treetops climbing frame. Maybe they will opt to listen to an older pupil developing their public speaking skills by extolling the virtues of women in politics at speakers' corner. Poor behaviour or meanness is not a problem. Teachers teach. Pupils learn. The small numbers of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds do very well. The inclusive environment means that pupils thrive, no matter what their barriers or backgrounds are. One telling aspect of this magical school is that absence is minimal. Pupils want to be here because it is a great place to be.

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