St Paul's Church of England Primary School Brinnington

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 14 May 2024

Pupils have lots of friends and are happy at school. They know that the adults in school care about them and their families. Pupils follow the school rules well. They share the fitness equipment and join in playtime activities cooperatively. Pupils with more complex needs benefit from extra support to manage their emotions. This helps pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to learn without distraction. The school expects pupils, including those with SEND, to achieve highly. However, some pupils do not achieve as well as they should. This is because the school has not made clear its expectations for what pupils should learn in several subjects, including reading. Pupils value the many opportunities on offer beyond the academic curriculum. For example, they enjoy singing and playing instruments at a local concert hall. This builds their confidence and self-esteem. Older pupils spoke enthusiastically about attending residential trips. Pupils enjoy the annual Inter Faith Week, where representatives of a variety of faiths visit school. Pupils who represent their classmates on the school council, or have other responsibilities in school, take their roles seriously. They are proud to make a positive difference to their school and the local community. For example, pupils raise funds for national charities and bake cakes for the elderly.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, including reading, the school has not clearly identified the most important knowledge that pupils should learn and when this should be taught. This means that, in these subjects, pupils have an uneven learning journey. The school should refine its curriculum thinking in these subjects so that pupils develop a strong body of knowledge over time.
• The school's approaches to assessment in several subjects are in their infancy. This hinders how well teachers identify and address pupils' knowledge gaps. The school should ensure that staff are well equipped to establish what pupils know and remember in these subjects.
• Pupils who find learning to read difficult do not receive the support that they need to catch up. Consequently, these pupils do not build their phonics knowledge as quickly as they should. The school should make sure that pupils who struggle to learn to read benefit from regular and effective support.

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