Holy Family Catholic Primary School, located in Kidbrooke, Greenwich, London, underwent an inspection on June 9 and 10, 2022. The overall effectiveness of the school was rated as requiring improvement, alongside the quality of education and early years provision. However, the behaviour and attitudes of pupils, as well as their personal development, were rated as good. The school previously received a good rating in its last inspection in October 2016.
The inspection revealed that leaders' expectations for pupil learning have not been consistently high, resulting in pupils not achieving their full potential across the curriculum. New leadership is in place and is beginning to implement improvements in the curriculum, allowing pupils to build knowledge and understanding across various subjects. The school is characterized as small, providing a safe learning environment where pupils are cared for by trusted adults. Staff maintain warm and nurturing relationships with students, fostering a positive atmosphere.
Pupils demonstrate good behaviour and conduct, attending school regularly and enjoying their learning experiences. They are respectful and courteous, with bullying being rare and effectively addressed by staff when it occurs. The school prioritizes pupil well-being and promotes values of respect, service, and love. Pupils learn about the diversity of modern Britain through various resources, including reading materials and artwork that reflect different backgrounds and experiences.
The school offers a range of extracurricular activities, such as football, taekwondo, gymnastics, a gospel choir, and British sign language, encouraging pupils to engage with their community through charitable events. New leaders are ambitious and are working to enhance the quality of education by redesigning the curriculum to align with national standards. They are raising expectations regarding the essential knowledge and skills pupils should acquire over time, including in early years education.
While some improvements are evident, inconsistencies remain in the implementation of the revised curriculum, particularly in early reading and phonics instruction. Leaders have initiated a new phonics teaching system, emphasizing the importance of matching reading materials to pupils' phonetic knowledge to enhance fluency and accuracy. However, there are still areas where staff require additional support to improve their subject knowledge and teaching effectiveness.
The leadership team is also focused on ensuring that assessment strategies are effectively utilized across all subjects to identify and address gaps in pupils' knowledge. The school has made strides in supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, ensuring they have access to the same curriculum as their peers. However, the early stages of curriculum development in some subjects hinder the learning progress of these pupils.
Pupils' personal development is supported through a comprehensive curriculum that includes personal, social, health, and economic education. The school environment is orderly and conducive to learning, with a wide range of opportunities for trips and extracurricular activities that foster citizenship and community involvement. Governors are knowledgeable and actively involved in the school's improvement efforts, while leaders monitor staff workload and well-being.
The safeguarding arrangements at the school are effective, with staff receiving regular training and support to ensure pupil safety. Leaders have established a culture of vigilance, and pupils report feeling safe within the school environment. Overall, while Holy Family Catholic Primary School has made progress in certain areas, there are still significant improvements needed in curriculum delivery and assessment practices to ensure all pupils achieve their potential.
