St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 13 June 2023

This is a happy school where everyone is valued. There are strong, caring relationships between staff and pupils. Pupils are respectful to each other and understand difference, for example different types of ethnicities. Pupils learn an ambitious and well-designed curriculum. This means they achieve well in all subjects. Pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), work hard and enjoy their lessons. Children in the early years are enthusiastic about the activities they do. They show independence and resilience. Pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education. Pupils behave well around the school, both in classrooms and on the playground. On the occasions when there are incidents of unkindness, staff take appropriate action to resolve these. As a result, bullying is rare. Pupils have access to a wide set of experiences. For example, pupils enjoy learning music in the school's music studio. They praise their school trips that support the curriculum, for instance to Duxford and a local activity centre. Pupils enjoy the after-school clubs on offer, such as choir and athletics. These allow pupils to develop their interests, talents and character.

What the school should improve

• In a few areas, the knowledge that leaders intend teachers to assess is too broad and lacks clarity. Consequently, when checking pupils' understanding of the curriculum content, teachers' assessment of what pupils are learning and remembering is not as accurate as it should be. The school should ensure that for some subjects the learning to be checked is precisely identified so that assessment is more robust and shows teachers and subject leaders where there are gaps in pupils' understanding.
• Some parents feel that leaders do not always communicate well with parents. As a result, a significant minority of parents do not understand the reasons for the recent changes that have been introduced. This leads to some families feeling that their concerns have not always been listened to. Leaders must ensure that they continue to work with families to ensure that the positive changes being made have maximum impact for pupils. Leaders should also ensure that parents receive a full and detailed response to concerns raised.

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