St Columba’s RC Primary School in Bolton was inspected on 10 and 11 April 2024, receiving an overall effectiveness rating of good. The school has maintained a good standard of education, behaviour, personal development, leadership, and early years provision since its last inspection, which was rated outstanding. The long gap between inspections was due to the school being exempt from routine inspections until November 2020. The current report reflects the school’s performance under the latest inspection framework and considers any changes since the last graded inspection.
Pupils at St Columba’s are eager to support their peers and engage in various roles such as subject ambassadors and prefects, contributing positively to the school community. They participate in initiatives that promote charitable causes and enjoy curriculum-related trips, such as geography fieldwork and residential outdoor activities. The school offers a range of extracurricular clubs, including football, dance, and choir, which some pupils actively participate in. The curriculum is ambitious, and pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, generally achieve well, particularly in mathematics.
Behaviour at the school is exemplary, with pupils demonstrating kindness and friendliness. They appreciate the school’s proactive approach to resolving minor conflicts and feel safe and happy in their environment. The school has designed a balanced curriculum that outlines expectations for learning from Nursery to Year 6, breaking down content into manageable steps in many subjects. This structured approach helps pupils build their knowledge effectively over time.
However, the school is currently refining a few subject curriculums, leading to some uncertainty about the knowledge to be taught in these areas. Consequently, pupils’ understanding in these subjects may not be as secure as in others. While teachers effectively check pupils’ learning and provide timely support, the checks in subjects still under development are less precise.
The school identifies pupils with special educational needs early and provides necessary support, collaborating with external agencies for more complex cases. Reading is encouraged, with teachers sharing high-quality texts and implementing a consistent phonics programme from Reception Year. Most pupils meet the phonics screening check in Year 1, indicating effective early reading instruction.
Attendance is promoted, but some strategies to address punctuality and attendance issues are not as effective as they could be, resulting in some pupils missing important learning opportunities. Despite this, pupils exhibit exemplary behaviour, with minimal disruptions to learning and a respectful attitude towards others.
The school effectively supports pupils’ personal development, fostering an understanding of fundamental British values through the curriculum and assemblies. Older pupils benefit from a leadership programme that enhances their confidence and self-awareness. Governors actively participate in school life and support staff in managing their workload.
The safeguarding arrangements are effective, ensuring a safe environment for all pupils. To improve, the school should finalize its curriculum development in certain subjects to provide clearer guidance for staff and enhance the precision of learning checks. Additionally, the school needs to review its strategies for improving attendance and punctuality to ensure all pupils can fully engage in their education. Overall, St Columba’s RC Primary School demonstrates a commitment to providing a supportive and effective learning environment for its pupils.
