THERE were celebrations all round at a Worcester primary school after it boosted its Ofsted rating.

Inspectors now consider St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Chedworth Drive, Warndon, to be good overall with some examples of outstanding teaching, improving from its previous grading of satisfactory.

They said pupils make good progress and achieve well, and by year 6, standards in English and mathematics are above average.

According to inspectors, children in the Early Years Foundation Stage benefit from high quality teaching and develop quickly.

High expectations and well established routines helped support their start at school inspectors said. This allows them to settle quickly and achieve well.

The report highlighted that disabled pupils, those who have special educational needs and those eligible for further support, all make good progress. Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development was deemed to be good, as was their behaviour in lessons and around the school.

Attendance is above average and inspectors said the headteacher, staff and governors have “high aspirations and expectations” of all pupils.

The report said they had “rapidly improved” the effectiveness of the school since the last inspection and, as a result, the overall quality of teaching has risen, improving pupils’ progress.

Chairman of governors, Paul Johnson, said: “[The judgement] is reflected in the high achievement of the pupils, both in terms of their grades and the improvement we see in their progress.”

 

What the school does well
Pupils make good progress and achieve well. By Year 6 standards in English and mathematics are above average.


Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage benefit from high quality teaching and develop quickly.


Disabled pupils, those who have special educational needs and those eligible for further support, all make good progress.


Pupils are given memorable experiences across a range of subjects which engage them in learning. Their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good.


Pupils’ behaviour is good in lessons and around the school.


The headteacher, staff and governors rapidly improved the effectiveness of the school since the last inspection. The overall quality of teaching has risen, improving pupils’ progress.


Governors support the head to improve the quality of teaching and monitor teachers’ performance, securing the improvements in pupils’ achievement.

What it can do better

Pupils’ opportunities to think and learn by themselves are sometimes limited by having to spend too much time listening to adults in lessons.


Teachers’ marking does not consistently provide pupils with the information they need to improve their work and this can affect their progress.


The more able pupils are not always provided with opportunities to practise their problem-solving skills in mathematics or to develop their language skills in longer pieces of writing in English.