St Mary's RC Junior School

Inspection of a school judged good for overall effectiveness before September 2024: St Mary’s RC Junior School Shorts Road, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 2PB

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Outcome

Evidence gathered during this ungraded (section 8) inspection suggests that the school’s work may have improved significantly across all areas since the previous inspection. The school’s next inspection will be a graded inspection.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are proud to be part of this school. They value the high-quality opportunities provided, both in lessons and in extra-curricular activities. Pupils thoroughly enjoy their learning, and feel happy, confident and safe. Staff are consistent in their excellent support and care of pupils.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school has created an environment which reflects its vision of ‘high expectations and a striving for excellence in all that we do.’ This is evident in the improvements it has made in the curriculum and the way it is taught. The school’s work has secured exceptional outcomes for pupils over time. The standards that pupils attain in national curriculum tests are consistently high.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school encourages its pupils to grow and flourish together as friends. Pupils’ exemplary behaviour reflects the school’s high expectations of them. They are polite, articulate and courteous. They treat adults and each other with respect. Pupils take part actively in discussions and collaborate well in lessons. They work hard to finish tasks assigned to them, with very little prompting from staff.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy the positions of responsibilities entrusted to them by the school. For instance, elected school council representatives give pupils a say in school life. They contribute to decision-making, including with the improvement of the school’s playground rota. 18 and 19 March 2025

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

The school has designed an ambitious curriculum. Its aims for what pupils should learn and remember are now embedded throughout the school. Across the curriculum, pupils are learning exceptionally well. They are consistently building on prior learning. In mathematics for example, pupils recall and practise their arithmetic skills and build high levels of fluency. This prepares them effectively for when they move to more complex problems involving fractions and percentages.

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

Teachers display strong subject knowledge and introduce subject matter clearly. They use modelling effectively to help pupils to develop a deeper level of understanding of curriculum content. Staff are quick to identify and address pupils’ misconceptions. Pupils’ secure knowledge allows them to apply their learning across different areas of the curriculum. As a result, pupils remember key ideas very well, which prepares them successfully for the next stage in their education.

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

The school identifies the needs of its pupils at the earliest opportunity. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff work closely with the feeder infant school to gather information about pupils’ needs and achievements before they even start. In early reading, for example, pupils who are falling behind in their phonics are identified promptly. These pupils benefit from a well-considered reading curriculum and effective additional support, and they catch up quickly. The curriculum also provides pupils with plenty of opportunities to develop and deepen their writing skills. Pupils with SEND receive effective adaptations and they too, achieve very well. As a result, most pupils in this school are reading and writing fluently.

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

Pupils take great pride in their broad-ranging achievements. These include success in regional competitions in sports such as golf and cross-country. Their understanding of the wider world, including different cultures, is enriched through visits to places in the local area. Pupils explore and develop their talents and interests. They learn musical instruments, perform in choirs, and attend numerous theatre productions. There are a wide variety of after-school clubs, which are well attended. The school ensures that pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, access this extensive and inclusive programme.

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

Pupils attend school regularly. If levels of absence become a concern, the school takes prompt and effective action. It works closely with families and external agencies to remove barriers to attendance.

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

Leaders and governors are committed to improving and sustaining the school’s strong performance across all areas of its work. Their decisions are driven by a clear focus on promoting the best interests of pupils, including those who are most vulnerable. The impact of the school’s actions is reflected in the exceptionally strong outcomes that pupils achieve throughout the curriculum. 18 and 19 March 2025

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Staff appreciate that leaders are mindful of their workload. Processes, such as those in the feedback policy, have been streamlined to make them more manageable. Staff report that they are given the time and resources to carry out their roles effectively.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. 18 and 19 March 2025

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Background

Until September 2024, on a graded (section 5) inspection we gave schools an overall effectiveness grade, in addition to the key and provision judgements. Overall effectiveness grades given before September 2024 will continue to be visible on school inspection reports and on Ofsted’s website. From September 2024 graded inspections will not include an overall effectiveness grade. This school was, before September 2024, judged to be good for its overall effectiveness.

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Background

We have now inspected the school to determine whether it has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at that previous inspection. 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’s work has improved significantly or that it may not be as strong as it was at the last inspection, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection. A graded inspection 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 for overall effectiveness in February 2020.

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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’ 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 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). 18 and 19 March 2025

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Dates of previous inspection 4 and 5 February 2020, under section 5 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The school is in a hard federation with St Mary’s RC Infant School.  The school does not use any alternative provision.  The school has a Catholic religious ethos and is part of the Archdiocese of Southwark. The school’s last section 48 inspection took place in March 2019.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time evaluation about the quality of a school’s education provision.  This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  The inspector held discussions with the executive headteacher and other members of the senior leadership team. 18 and 19 March 2025

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 The inspector also met with the chair of governors.  The inspector visited a sample of lessons, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspector: 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.  The inspector also considered the views of parents and carers through their responses to Ofsted’s surveys.

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Inspection team

Edison David, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector 18 and 19 March 2025

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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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