St Eugene de Mazenod Roman Catholic Primary School

Inspection of St Eugene de Mazenod Roman Catholic Primary School Mazenod Avenue, London NW6 4LS

p.1

Inspection dates: 17 and 18 October 2023

p.1

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Early years provision Outstanding Previous inspection grade Outstanding

p.1

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

Until November 2020, the school was exempt from routine inspection because it was judged as outstanding at its previous inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. The school has not been inspected under section 5 of the Act since December 2010. 17 and 18 October 2023

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils thoroughly enjoy attending this school. Leaders are determined that pupils become ‘the best they can be’. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), respond very positively to the high expectations of their learning and behaviour. Consequently, they work hard and achieve exceptionally well across the curriculum.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders fully promote reading. Pupils love books and they enjoy talking about the way reading helps them to create pictures and ideas in their minds. Pupils also enjoy learning the wide range of subjects they study. For example, they get to know and understand a range of different artists through their work in art and design.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

The school provides extensive opportunities to promote pupils’ character development. Pupils take on additional responsibilities, such as becoming a prayer leader. They are taught to challenge stereotypes and celebrate differences, for example pupils regularly hear from a range of visitors from different religious backgrounds.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

Staff and pupils have very positive relationships. Pupils trust staff to help them if they have any worries and, therefore, they feel safe. Staff have consistently high expectations of pupils’ behaviour. As a result, pupils’ behaviour is excellent, both in and out of lessons.

p.2

better?

The school’s ambition for pupils is evident in the depth and breadth of the curriculum. The curriculum is sequenced, so that pupils’ knowledge builds securely and successfully. In the early years, children confidently learn number bonds to 10, so that they can complete harder sums in Year 1 and beyond. Teachers’ very clear examples help pupils to complete learning successfully. Across the curriculum, teachers routinely check pupils’ knowledge. They act quickly to address any gaps in knowledge and correct any misunderstandings. Pupils produce high-quality work across all subjects.

p.2

better?

The school’s work to identify and support pupils with SEND is excellent. Leaders check that actions designed to help pupils are being delivered consistently and effectively. They ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills required to meet the needs of pupils with SEND. As a result, staff expertly support pupils with SEND, enabling them to access the curriculum and achieve strong outcomes.

p.2

better?

The school prioritises reading. Children in Reception start learning phonics straight away. Leaders ensure that staff receive training and ongoing support to help improve pupils’ reading. Pupils speak enthusiastically about the books that they have enjoyed. Expert staff quickly identify those pupils who find reading more difficult. They provide excellent support, so that these pupils catch up quickly. Pupils build up a strong understanding of vocabulary. This is achieved because staff explicitly teach 17 and 18 October 2023

p.2

3

carefully chosen words in different contexts. The school’s sharp focus on vocabulary helps pupils to successfully access the whole curriculum.

p.3

3

Staff teach, model and praise the behaviour they expect from pupils. For example, pupils learn about body language and how to show others that they are attentively listening. Pupils treat each other and staff with kindness and respect. Lessons are free from any low-level disruption. Pupils also know the school’s values and can talk about what they and their friends have done to demonstrate them. Pupils show high levels of determination and resilience. Their attendance is high. Leaders manage attendance well and act quickly on any identified concerns.

p.3

3

The school’s work to promote pupils’ personal development is exceptional. Pupils are taught extensively about how to manage risks, including when online. For example, pupils in Years 5 and 6 are given different scenarios to think about, involving topics such as knife crime. Pupils have regular opportunities to debate and consider topical issues using the knowledge that they have been taught. Pupils actively support the well-being of other pupils, for example, at sports day.

p.3

3

Leaders and governors have very high ambition and have ensured that there is high- quality in all aspects of the school’s work. Teachers feel very well supported by leaders, citing that leaders are considerate and help ensure that workload is manageable. The training and support that leaders provide to staff is a clear strength of the school. The partnership with other local schools helps to strengthen the range and quality of staff training.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

How can I feed back my views?

or to 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.

p.3

How can I feed back my views?

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

p.3

Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

p.3

Further information

In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ is used to mean pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND); pupils who meet the definition of children in need of help and protection ; pupils receiving statutory local authority support from a social worker; and pupils who otherwise meet the criteria used for deciding the school’s pupil premium funding (this includes pupils claiming free school meals at 17 and 18 October 2023

p.3

4

any point in the last six years, looked after children (children in local authority care) and/or children who left care through adoption or another formal route). 17 and 18 October 2023

p.4

School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

p.5

School details

Headteacher Moya Richardson (executive headteacher) Rebecca Smith (head of school) Website www.steugene.camden.sch.uk

p.5

School details

Dates of previous inspection 7 and 8 December 2010, under section 5 of the Education Act 2005

p.5

Information about this school

 St Eugene de Mazenod is a Roman Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Westminster.  The school’s most recent section 48 inspection took place in May 2016.  The school uses the term ‘head of school’ rather than headteacher. The head of school is supported by an executive headteacher.  The school does not use any alternative providers.  The school works in partnership with seven local primary schools. The partnership is led by two executive headteachers. 17 and 18 October 2023

p.5

Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time judgement about the quality of a school’s education provision.  This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID 19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors met with the head of school, executive headteacher and special educational needs coordinator. The lead inspector met a representative of the local authority and with members of the governing body, including the chair.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: early reading, mathematics, history, and art and design. For each deep dive, inspectors held discussions about the curriculum, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.  Inspectors also considered the curriculum in other subjects.

p.6

Information about this inspection

 To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspectors: reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils; and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.  Inspector considered the responses to Ofsted Parent View as well as the response to the online surveys for staff and pupils.

p.6

Inspection team

Barney Geen, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

p.6

Inspection team

Joel Sager Ofsted Inspector 17 and 18 October 2023

p.6

7

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.

p.7

7

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

7

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

7

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

7

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7