St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Newport Road, Newbury maintains Good rating after latest Ofsted inspection

A Newbury primary school has maintained its Good rating after its latest Ofsted inspection.

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Newport Road was visited by an inspector on October 17 and 18.

The school was praised for several reasons, including its teaching, the behaviour of its pupils and its curriculum.

Lead inspector Phillip Blagg said: “Pupils are proud to be members of this school. They respond positively to the schools’ high expectations, which motivate them to try their best.

“Pupils enthusiastically share their learning with visitors and talk confidently about their work. They show resilience and know that learning takes commitment and effort.”

Mr Blagg described the curriculum at St Joseph’s as “broad and ambitious” and stated that “the important knowledge and vocabulary pupils need to know are carefully planned from Nursery through to Year 6”.

He also praised the school’s teachers for their “strong subject knowledge”, and said: “They teach new knowledge confidently, giving clear explanations which make complicated ideas understandable.

“Teachers check how well pupils understand new learning and re-explain when pupils struggle.”

Reading was also found to be prioritised within the curriculum, and daily support is provided to pupils who struggle with it.

Behaviour at St Joseph’s was described as “calm and orderly” and arrangements for safeguarding at the school were found to be effective.

The school’s treatment of its pupils with SEND was also positively highlighted, with Mr Blagg stating “there is careful planning to meet the needs of these pupils”.

He also said: “The school carefully considers pupils’ wider development.

“Different leadership opportunities give pupils experience of responsibility and representing the views of others.

“They learn about the different faiths and cultural identities of pupils within the school. They experience music, food and dance, which broadens their perspectives about the different cultures.”

The only criticism made of the school was whether earlier learning was re-visited enough in the curriculum.

The report said: “In some foundation subjects, the curriculum is not focused on re-visiting earlier learning.

“Here, pupils struggle to remember important knowledge and do not develop a secure understanding over time.”