St Elphin's (Fairfield) CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School

Inspection of a good school: St Elphin’s (Fairfield) C of E Voluntary Aided Primary School Farrell Street, Warrington, Cheshire WA1 2GN

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Inspection dates: 24 and 25 January 2023

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Outcome

St Elphin’s (Fairfield) C of E Voluntary Aided Primary School continues to be a good school.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Staff and pupils at St Elphin’s have strong shared values that underpin all that they do. Pupils said that they feel happy, safe and supported on their journey through school. They told the inspector that their teachers help them to learn and become ready for their future lives. Pupils are proud of their school and the work that they do. They are expected to play a full part in the life of the school and the wider community. For example, in school, sports leaders organise many activities at breaktimes and the choir also regularly sings in church and at community events.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders have high expectations about what pupils can achieve and how they should behave. There are high levels of respect between pupils and staff. The clear and consistent routines create a feeling of calm and purpose around the school. Pupils, leaders and staff recognise and celebrate ‘doing the right thing’. Pupils behave well around school and in lessons. Leaders take effective action to make sure that any incidents of bullying stop.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The curriculum is ambitious. It ensures that pupils learn all that is included in the national curriculum. Leaders have thought carefully about the important knowledge that pupils need to learn and when this should be taught. This helps pupils to know and remember more over time.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Teachers present new ideas clearly. They teach lessons that help pupils to learn the content of the curriculum. Teachers check on pupils’ learning and use this information to plan next steps. This ensures that any misconceptions are identified and resolved. Pupils are reminded of what they have learned before and they have the opportunity to practise new skills regularly. 24 and 25 January 2023 Pupils said that they enjoy learning about a wide range of different subjects and taking part in lots of exciting extra-curricular activities. Activities within and beyond the classroom teach them about diversity and the importance of tolerance. This contributes well to their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Leaders prioritise reading throughout the school. In the early years, adults model appropriate language and provide activities that develop children’s vocabulary. The agreed phonics programme is delivered effectively by well-trained staff. Pupils practise their phonics knowledge by reading books that match the sounds that they know. However, some pupils still struggle to decode effectively. Teachers have not filled the precise gaps in the phonics knowledge of these pupils. This limits these pupils from reading fluently. Older pupils deepen their understanding of how authors develop their ideas. Pupils spoke enthusiastically about the range of books that they had read. Most pupils become confident and fluent readers by the end of key stage 2.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Pupils behave well. They focus during lessons and there is very little low-level disruption. As a result, most pupils can get on with their learning without any distraction. In the early years, and in Years 1 to 6, teachers use skilful questioning to find out what pupils know. Pupils are able to explain what they have learned. Accurate assessment information is used well by teachers to reshape their teaching. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are identified quickly and supported effectively across the school. These pupils take part fully in lessons and they benefit from the additional help that they receive to meet their needs.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, some pupils have struggled to get into the habit of attending school regularly. This means that some pupils are missing out on their learning. The gaps in their knowledge are widening.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Staff appreciate leaders’ consideration of their workload and well-being.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff are vigilant and understand the risks that pupils might face in their everyday lives. Staff are well trained to follow the agreed policies and procedures. They report their concerns in a timely way. Leaders follow up these concerns and make sure that pupils and families get the support that they need.

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Safeguarding

Pupils are taught to keep themselves safe online through a curriculum that regularly reinforces e-safety.

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

24 and 25 January 2023  Some pupils struggle to decode words. This prevents them from reading fluently and accessing other curriculum areas. Leaders should ensure that teachers accurately identify the precise gaps in pupils’ phonics knowledge and then provide teaching that helps pupils to gain the understanding that they need to read fluently.  Some pupils do not attend school regularly. This means that they miss lessons, which in turn, means that gaps in their learning widen. Leaders should ensure that they renew their efforts to ensure that pupils attend school as often as they should.

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Background

When we have judged a school to be good, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good. This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection, which is carried out under section 5 of the Act. Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

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Background

This is the first ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good in March 2017.

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How can I feed back my views?

find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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Further information

In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ refers to those pupils who attract government pupil premium funding: pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years and pupils in care or who left care through adoption or another formal route. 24 and 25 January 2023

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School details

Inspection number 10226145 Type of school Primary

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Date of previous inspection 21 March 2017, under section 8 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The school had its most recent section 48 inspection, undertaken by the Archdiocese of Liverpool, in January 2018.  Leaders do not currently use any alternative provision for pupils.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and has taken this into account in his evaluation of the school.  The inspector met with the headteacher, other senior leaders, subject leaders and groups of staff and pupils. The inspector also met with representatives of the governing body and representatives of the Liverpool Diocese Education.  To inspect safeguarding, the inspector spoke with parents, carers and pupils, scrutinised documents that the school keeps and spoke with leaders and staff.  The inspector took account of the responses to the Ofsted Parent View and the written comments from parents. He also spoke with several parents. 24 and 25 January 2023  The inspector took account of responses to the Ofsted staff survey and pupil survey.  The inspector carried out deep dives in these subjects: early reading, mathematics and

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Information about this inspection

art and design. Inspection activities included discussions with curriculum leaders about their curricular thinking, lesson visits, hearing pupils read and discussions with teachers and pupils about learning.

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Inspection team

Steve Kirkpatrick, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector 24 and 25 January 2023 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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