St Vincents Catholic Primary School, Newcastle

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 27 June 2023

Leaders at St Vincent's Catholic School deliver on their commitment to provide quality education in a caring environment. Leaders express high expectations for all pupils. They inspire pupils to do their best. Pupils enjoy coming to school and are enthusiastic learners. Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. Positive learning behaviours are taught from Reception class. Staff ensure that pupils new to school settle into routines quickly. Pupils learn how to use equipment, take turns and respect one another. Throughout school, pupils are kind and considerate. Pupils in Year 6 relish their role as buddies to younger pupils. All pupils spoken to say that they feel safe and happy in school. Bullying is rare. Pupils are confident that adults will help them deal with any concerns that they may have. Pupils access a rich curriculum that celebrates the heritage and the people of the region. The educational visits, linked to the subjects being studied, help in bringing the topics to life for pupils. For example, visiting an estate garden to see the work of Capability Brown gives pupils an understanding of the scale of his work. The visits contribute strongly to pupils knowing more and remembering more.

What the school should improve

• Although the personal, social, health and economic education curriculum is broad and well received by pupils, some local contextual safeguarding risks are not consistently covered in sufficient depth within the curriculum. Pupils are not fully prepared to deal with some of the challenges they face. Leaders should ensure that the curriculum includes wider activities to raise pupils' awareness of local contextual risks and how to mitigate these.
• Leaders do not ensure that the pupils' understanding of fundamental British values and the protected characteristics is sufficiently well developed. Pupils cannot articulate what the British values and protected characteristics are and why these make a difference to everyday life. Leaders should ensure that the curriculum provides pupils with the necessary opportunities to further develop their understanding of British values and protected characteristics.
• The individual plans for some pupils with SEND are not consistently specific enough to inform teachers of the exact next steps required. Pupils and parents do not routinely contribute to the plans or the reviews. Leaders should ensure that the targets for each pupil with SEND, and the teaching strategies to support them, are specific. Leaders should include parents and pupils in the planning and review of individual plans.

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