A ‘warm and welcoming’ Isle of Wight primary school has been graded good and outstanding after previously being told it ‘requires improvement’.
Ofsted has rated St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Ryde good for its quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management and early years provision but outstanding for personal development.
Inspectors said staff at St Mary’s have high expectations for achievement at the school and that pupils work hard to meet them.
There has been a ‘dogged focus on improvement’ since the last inspection, Ofsted noted, with a curriculum implemented that typically details the key knowledge, skills and vocabulary pupils will learn and when. Such ‘careful thinking’ has allowed pupils to expand their understanding across many subjects.
Other praise from inspectors included the extra responsibilities taken on by children at the school such as well-being, music and chaplaincy ambassadors, and other opportunities, through which pupils develop an ‘exceptionally strong sense of character’.
They also highlighted staff quickly identifying and meeting the needs of those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Turning to areas for improvement, Ofsted said the school should ensure key learning is clearly defined in all subjects, so teachers can teach the curriculum precisely.
In addition, the inspectorate said staff must identify and solve errors and gaps in children’s understanding prior to new curriculum content being introduced.
Margaret Sanderson, headteacher, said:
“Mrs Broome and the whole team at St Mary’s have worked so hard to ensure that the learning opportunities for all children are aspirational and exciting.
“It was really pleasing that Ofsted recognised ‘the school has had a dogged focus on improvement since the last inspection’.
“At St Mary’s we will continue to develop, and the areas Ofsted have suggested for next steps were already identified in the school improvement plan.”
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