St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Brighton has been recognized as a good school following its inspection on December 13, 2022. The school is characterized by high expectations set by its leaders, fostering respectful relationships between staff and pupils. Students express happiness and a sense of safety within the school environment, demonstrating a strong sense of community. A Year 1 pupil articulated this sentiment by stating that everyone is equal in their unique ways, highlighting the inclusive atmosphere of the school.
Pupils actively engage in after-school clubs, where they learn various skills such as karate, street dancing, and gymnastics. Their commitment to environmental issues is evident as they participate in initiatives to raise awareness about conservation. They take pride in creating recycled festive cards and planting trees to support the local ecosystem. The school promotes good behavior, and pupils trust staff to address any bullying incidents promptly. They understand the importance of exercise and healthy eating, participating enthusiastically in initiatives like the ‘active advent’ program.
The school excels in providing a broad and engaging curriculum, with pupils looking forward to learning and participating in various trips that enhance their educational experience. These trips include visits to museums, art galleries, and local parks. Leaders and staff are dedicated to ensuring that all pupils can overcome challenges and reach their potential. However, a small number of pupils do not attend regularly, which affects their ability to benefit fully from the school's offerings. Leaders are actively working to improve attendance.
Staff at St Joseph’s enjoy their work environment, appreciating the support from leaders. The governing body is knowledgeable and effectively supports and challenges school leaders, ensuring a focus on continuous improvement in education quality. Reading is prioritized, and the love for reading is evident among younger pupils, who eagerly engage with stories read by staff. However, older pupils who are still at the early stages of learning to read do not receive adequate support, which hinders their development as confident readers.
Leaders effectively identify the needs of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, ensuring that the curriculum is well-structured in most subjects. However, in some areas, such as design technology and history, there is a lack of clarity regarding the sequential learning objectives, which affects pupils' learning outcomes. Personal development is a key focus, with pupils learning to respect and empathize with others, regardless of their backgrounds. They engage in discussions about important social issues and participate in charitable activities.
The school has effective safeguarding arrangements in place, with regular training for staff and clear procedures for reporting concerns. Pupils are aware of how to keep safe, including online safety, and they feel comfortable sharing their concerns with staff. To improve further, the school needs to ensure that the curriculum in some foundation subjects is coherent and sequenced effectively. Additionally, strategies to improve attendance must be consistently implemented, particularly for persistently absent pupils. Leaders should also ensure that older pupils are provided with appropriate reading materials that support their phonics knowledge, enabling them to become fluent readers. Overall, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School continues to demonstrate a commitment to providing a supportive and enriching educational experience for its pupils.
