St Mary's Catholic Primary School

Inspection Report St Mary's Catholic Primary School

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124349 Unique Reference Number Staffordshire Local Authority 292967 Inspection number 28 February °1 March 2007 Inspection dates Frances Gillam Reporting inspector

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This inspection of the school was carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Hunter Road School address Primary Type of school Cannock Voluntary aided School category WS11 0AE 3 °10 Age range of pupils 01543 510380 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01543 510383 Fax number 227 Number on roll (school) Vacant Position Chair The governing body Appropriate authority Stephen Breeze Headteacher 1 June 2002 Date of previous school inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 292967 28 February °1 March 2007 3°10 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by two Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

This is an average sized primary school. Most pupils are White British and a small proportion come from minority ethnic groups. A small number of these are at the early stages of learning English. The proportion of pupils identified with learning difficulties is similar to most schools. The proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals is below average. Staff absence rates, some due to illness and maternity leave, have been high in Years 1 and 2 over the past three years.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: St Mary's Catholic Primary School, 28 February °1 March 2007

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Grade: 2

This is a good school, where pupils achieve well in their work and where they make good progress in their personal development and well-being. Pupils enjoy school and their behaviour is extremely good. They look out for others and take very good care of themselves. Care, guidance and support are good and parents • Make sure pupils gain a better understanding of cultures other than their own.

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Grade: 2

Achievement is good and standards are above average by the time pupils leave the school. Children in the Foundation Stage do well. In the Nursery and Reception classes, well conceived activities build successfully on children's experiences and enable the children to explore and find things out for themselves. Children make good progress because basic skills are taught well and most achieve or exceed the goals for their age by the time they enter Year 1. This positive start is not always capitalised on in Year 1, particularly for the more able, because activities are not always sufficiently challenging. Pupils make good progress by Year 6. The focus on raising the achievement of the more able pupils is proving successful, particularly in Years 3 to 6, where pupils say the work is interesting and how much they enjoy a challenge, particularly in mathematics. Pupils produce some good quality work across subjects but pupils in

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Grade: 2

Years 1 and 2 could be doing better in mathematics. Sometimes pupils complete activities, which do not challenge them to do their best or to use what they already know to solve calculations and figure out problems.

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Grade: 2

Pupils are very aware of healthy lifestyles and make very good choices about their diet and well-being. 'Play buddies' support pupils at break times and 'Help' boxes, found in every class, give pupils a useful avenue to express their concerns. These, along with the high standard of behaviour, contribute successfully to pupils' enjoyment of school and their good attendance. Pupils' relationships with and each other are very trusting and pupils show a high level of care for themselves and others. Pupils contribute well to the wider community through such activities as raising funds and providing musical performances in the local area. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. Pupils have a strong sense of right and wrong and work very well together, but their awareness of cultures other than their own is not so strong.

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Grade: 2

In the Foundation Stage staff plan activities that spark children's erest and motivate learning. These enable children to do well and make a positive start to school. Sometimes, when pupils move into Year 1, this good rate of progress is not sustained. This is because lessons here sometimes lack pace, and activities do not always meet the needs of the pupils sufficiently well, especially the more able. In most classes staff 3 Inspection Report: St Mary's Catholic Primary School, 28 February °1 March 2007 assess the achievements of pupils and use the information carefully to plan the next steps in learning. This enables most pupils to make good progress in their learning but sometimes in Years 1 and 2, tasks in mathematics do not always challenge pupils to do their best, and this hinders learning. In most classes, teachers explain clearly to pupils what they are going to learn and why. This helps pupils to settle quickly to their

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Grade: 2

tasks and work hard. Learning support assistants play an important role supporting pupils with learning difficulties. They treat these pupils sensitively and praise their efforts; this builds the pupils' confidence and self-esteem.

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Grade: 2

Pupils, including children in the Foundation Stage, experience a wide range of interesting learning activities, which promote literacy and numer and help to prepare pupils successfully for the future. Activities for the most part build well on what pupils have learned before, but not always in mathematics in Years 1 and 2. An extensive and exciting range of clubs and events outside normal lessons, including sports clubs and residential visits, support pupils' personal well-being and learning successfully, and contribute very well to their enjoyment of school. The school makes good use of teachers' expertise to develop the curriculum further, for example, staff with teaching strengths in modern foreign languages are introducing French and German for pupils in Years 3 and 4.

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Grade: 2

Pupils say they feel safe and free from harm. This is because of the high level of care they receive and the well established child protection procedures. Children commented on the kindness of staff and the warm friendly atmosphere in the school. Staff treat pupils fairly and promote healthy lifestyles successfully. The very good work with the community police to identify difficulties these pupils may be experiencing and whether they are doing well enough. The special educational needs co-ordinator has developed good processes to identify and support pupils with learning difficulties, which enables these pupils to make good progress. The school works extremely well with parents, who are very supportive. As a result, they play an active part in their children's learning. 5 Inspection Report: St Mary's Catholic Primary School, 28 February °1 March 2007 .

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Grade: 2

set out in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 6 Inspection Report: St Mary's Catholic Primary School, 28 February °1 March 2007

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