Ofsted conducted a short inspection of St Michael’s Primary School and Nursery in Colchester on 18 July 2019, following its previous judgment of good in July 2015. The inspection confirmed that the school continues to maintain a good quality of education. The leadership team, under Mrs. Gail Burns, has garnered strong support from staff, pupils, parents, and governors, fostering an environment where pupils thrive and are well-prepared for their educational journey. The school effectively addresses the challenges posed by high pupil mobility, particularly among children from service families who often spend less time at the school.
The school’s improvement planning and evaluation processes are robust, allowing leaders to identify both achievements and ongoing challenges. Governors expressed confidence in the leadership, noting that senior leaders focus on solutions rather than problems. A key area of improvement since the last inspection has been the emphasis on deepening pupils' thinking and problem-solving skills, which has been successfully implemented through a mastery approach in teaching.
St Michael’s is described as an engaging and vibrant learning environment where pupils feel safe and happy. Instances of bullying are rare, and pupils demonstrate a strong understanding of social media risks. They take pride in their school, particularly those wearing the distinctive purple uniform as ‘anti-bulliers.’ The school promotes kindness and acceptance, fostering a culture where differences are respected.
Teaching is well-structured, enabling pupils to articulate their learning and progress. They are aware of their targets and are eager to engage in challenging tasks. Parental feedback through Ofsted’s Parent View survey has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the professionalism and care of the staff.
Governance at the school is strong, with governors actively engaging in monitoring and questioning the school’s practices. They collaborate with other schools to validate assessments and share best practices. The local authority has confidence in the school’s provision.
Safeguarding measures are effective, with a strong culture of vigilance ensuring pupil safety. Staff are well-trained in safeguarding policies, and all necessary pre-employment checks are conducted.
The inspection focused on the school’s efforts to improve writing outcomes, particularly for early years and key stage two pupils, as writing had been identified as a weakness. There has been a noticeable increase in focus on writing, with classrooms displaying examples of good writing practices. Provisional data indicates improvements in writing attainment and progress, although further work is needed to maintain this momentum.
The inspection also examined the use of pupil premium funding to support disadvantaged pupils. Historically, these pupils have underperformed, particularly in writing. However, recent data shows improvements in outcomes for disadvantaged pupils, especially in reading and writing. The school has also effectively utilized service pupil premium funding to support children from service families, including the introduction of a ‘Military Little Troopers’ club.
Finally, the inspection addressed the issue of persistent absenteeism, which remains a concern. While overall attendance is average, vulnerable pupils attend less regularly. The school is actively working to improve attendance rates among these groups.
Next steps for the school include maintaining the focus on writing, continuing to utilize pupil premium funding effectively, and reducing persistent absenteeism to enhance overall attendance.
