St Patrick's Catholic Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 19 May 2026

St Patrick’s Primary is an inclusive, caring and vibrant Catholic community school. Pupils are welcomed warmly at the gate, which helps them start the day positively. The school’s values shape daily life. They are woven through the curriculum and wider life, teaching pupils to be compassionate, dedicated and respectful. Pupils feel known, safe and valued in this friendly and inclusive environment. Initiatives led by the school council, such as the ‘random acts of kindness’ competition, encourage pupils to notice others and contribute positively to school life. Staff teach pupils the behaviours expected of them and how to make a constructive contribution to the community. For example, pupils learn to show appreciation, take turns and recognise the power of a smile. This work strengthens pupils’ character and confidence. In the rare incidents of bullying, staff respond promptly and appropriately. Leaders’ focused work on resilience has contributed to improved attendance. Overall, pupils attend well. Events such as ‘Aspiration Week’ broaden pupils’ horizons. Visitors from the local community, including architects, scientists and a BMX rider share messages, such as 'Never give up on your dreams', helping pupils feel inspired about where learning can take them. Pupils also value the wide range of experiences the school offers. They enjoy many clubs, trips and visits, which help them to discover new interests and broaden their horizons. Pupils relish the opportunity to join the Irish dancing led by the headteacher or play the ukulele. Leaders have taken purposeful steps to improve the school. Pupils now study a well-sequenced and thoughtfully designed curriculum that meets their needs. As a result, pupils achieve well overall, with outcomes broadly in line with national expectations. Disadvantaged pupils achieve significantly higher than their peers nationally, reflecting leaders’ determination to remove barriers to learning and support pupils’ wellbeing.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that early years activities are consistently ambitious and develop children’s knowledge and vocabulary more effectively through carefully chosen, purposeful learning opportunities.
• Leaders should ensure that all staff use the school's teaching and learning principles effectively so that the curriculum is consistently taught well across all subjects and year groups.
• Leaders should ensure that the assess, plan, do, review model is used consistently, so that the school’s internal resource provision is adapted promptly and effectively to meet pupils’ needs.

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