St Peter's Community Primary School, located in Portslade-By-Sea, Brighton, underwent an inspection on 8 and 9 March 2022. The overall effectiveness of the school was rated as requiring improvement, with specific areas such as the quality of education and leadership and management also marked as requiring improvement. However, the school demonstrated good performance in behavior and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision.
Pupils at St Peter's are described as safe, happy, and welcoming, with adults maintaining high expectations for their interactions. The school promotes a golden rule of treating others as one would like to be treated, fostering an understanding of diversity among pupils. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the school prioritized helping pupils settle back into the school environment, ensuring they felt safe and secure.
While pupils enjoy a broad range of subjects, the teaching in some areas lacks adequate planning, leading to difficulties in making connections in their learning and retaining essential knowledge. Pupils are aware of what constitutes bullying and report that it occurs infrequently, with staff addressing any incidents promptly to prevent recurrence. The vibrant city of Brighton offers pupils various extracurricular experiences, and they look forward to resuming trips and visits post-pandemic.
The headteacher's high expectations and passion for fostering a love of learning are shared by the teaching staff. However, there is a need for clearer identification of key learning objectives in certain subjects, as well as a more focused approach to the curriculum. Leaders recognize the necessity of improving the curriculum's quality to meet the high expectations set for pupils. Despite this, the curriculum aims to provide experiences beyond the local area.
Since returning from the pandemic, leaders have not sufficiently reviewed pupils' knowledge retention, resulting in gaps in understanding that have not been adequately addressed. In some subjects, pupils struggle to connect new learning with prior knowledge. In contrast, the early years curriculum is well-structured and effectively planned, allowing children to practice and apply their learning in a supportive environment.
Leaders acknowledge that pupils in Years 1 and 2 are not progressing in reading as quickly as needed, with many struggling to link letters and sounds. Although staff training on new resources has occurred, leaders have not yet assessed the effectiveness of this training. Some teachers require additional guidance in selecting appropriate reading materials to support pupils' learning.
Pupils are encouraged to lead active lifestyles and learn about health, with a strong interest in resuming sports clubs. Older pupils develop social skills, learning about friendship and respect, and behavior in classrooms is generally conducive to learning. Some pupils with special educational needs receive additional support through a nurture group.
In mathematics, pupils express enjoyment and find the teaching effective, with resources selected to support their learning. The governing body has focused on operational matters during the pandemic, which has led to a lack of attention to statutory responsibilities. Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff trained to recognize signs of abuse, although some procedures require clarification.
Overall, while St Peter's Community Primary School has strengths in various areas, there are significant opportunities for improvement, particularly in curriculum planning, reading instruction, and ensuring all staff are confident in safeguarding procedures. The school is committed to addressing these areas to enhance the educational experience for all pupils.
