St Peter's Catholic Primary School

Inspection of St Peter’s Catholic Primary School Crescent Road, London SE18 7BN

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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 25 and 26 June 2024

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are happy, friendly and enjoy coming to school. The school’s mission statements and values run through school life. For instance, staff encourage pupils to ‘work hard’. Staff care for pupils with kindness and consideration. There are high expectations for pupils’ learning and behaviour. Pupils enjoy their learning, particularly in the outdoor learning environment, where pupils experience hands-on learning. This helps pupils to develop their confidence and self-esteem.

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What is it like to attend this school?

There is a calm and orderly environment across the school. Pupils know the routines exceptionally well. The school makes sure that pupils are kept safe. Pupils’ behaviour across the school is excellent. The school prides itself on developing positive, supportive working relationships with pupils, staff and parents and carers. The school is seen as a ‘big family’ by many.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils take on leadership roles, such as faith leaders, school council, house captains and eco warriors. Pupils contribute positively to the life of the school. For example, they helped design the new ‘Prayer Garden’. Pupils have opportunities to help in the community through supporting food banks and charities. The school promotes singing very well. For instance, the choir often performs at local events. There are a wide variety of extra-curricular activities and school trips, which are highly valued.

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better?

Pupils learn an ambitious curriculum that matches and exceeds what is expected nationally. The school enables pupils to achieve extremely highly. Leaders have identified the key knowledge and skills they expect pupils to learn precisely. The curriculum is well sequenced from Reception so that pupils build their knowledge cumulatively. Staff are highly skilled to support pupils to tackle more complex ideas as they move through the school. In early years, children learn across all areas of learning. Staff develop children’s communication and language skills very well.

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better?

Teachers present information clearly and have very strong subject knowledge. Pupils build their knowledge deeply across a wide range of subjects, including art, music and design and technology. Pupils have an extremely strong recollection of key content that is taught. They produce work to a high standard, such as in their art sketchbooks. Very strong teaching enables pupils to build on their subject-specific vocabulary. For example, in geography, pupils understood concepts such as deforestation and its impact on the environment. In early years, children used descriptive language confidently when learning about different types of whales. Pupils take great pride in their many achievements.

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better?

The reading curriculum is highly effective. Staff have been well trained to implement the school’s phonics programme as soon as children join Reception. Staff provide well-targeted catch-up sessions for any pupils who may struggle with their reading. This helps pupils to quickly gain the knowledge and skills they need to become 25 and 26 June 2024

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confident, fluent readers. By the end of Year 6, pupils achieve very highly in their reading and are very well prepared for secondary school.

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All adults check pupils’ learning and they address misconceptions with precision. Teachers make adaptations to pupils’ work skilfully. This ensures that those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive an appropriate level of challenge in their learning.

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Pupils focus extremely well in their learning. Behaviour across the school is excellent. This begins in the early years, where staff makes sure children follow routines and instructions. Pupils interact very positively with adults and each other. Leaders have effective systems in place to ensure that pupils attend school regularly and on time.

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The school prepares pupils for life in modern Britain effectively. Staff promote the importance of the fundamental British values, such as respect. Celebrations such as ‘Culture Week’ facilitate pupils’ understanding of equality. The school supports pupils to be responsible citizens. For example, pupils take part in workshops about citizenship and learn how to manage money.

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Leaders and governors are very mindful of staff’s workload. This is much appreciated by staff. Parents and carers felt highly positive about how the school works with them and their children.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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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.

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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’ is used to mean pupils with 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 any point in the last six years, looked after 25 and 26 June 2024

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children (children in local authority care) and/or children who left care through adoption or another formal route). 25 and 26 June 2024

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Dates of previous inspection 21 and 22 March 2023, under section 8 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 This is smaller than the average-sized primary school. Its last section 48 inspection took place in September 2023.  The school does not use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

The inspectors carried out this graded inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school and have taken that into account in this evaluation of the school.  Inspectors held meetings with the headteacher and with other senior leaders.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, 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. 25 and 26 June 2024

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 Inspectors carried out deep dives in reading, science and geography. For each deep dive, inspectors met with subject leaders to discuss the curriculum, visited lessons, spoke with teachers, spoke with pupils about their learning and looked at samples of their work.  The curriculum in other subjects was considered as part of the inspection.  Inspectors scrutinised a range of documents, including leaders’ priorities for improvement.  The views of staff, pupils and parents were gathered through discussions and their responses to Ofsted’s online surveys.

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Inspection team

Sarah Lack, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

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Inspection team

Lisa Smith His Majesty’s Inspector 25 and 26 June 2024

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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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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