St Peter's Church of England Controlled Primary School, located in Edgmond, Newport, underwent an inspection on March 12-13, 2013, and received an overall effectiveness rating of outstanding. This marked an improvement from its previous inspection, where it was rated good. The school demonstrates exceptional achievement across all year groups, ensuring that pupils are well-prepared for their transition to secondary education. In the Reception class, children make remarkable progress due to a diverse range of engaging activities. As students progress through the school, they continue to excel, achieving above-average standards by the time they complete Year 6. However, there is a noted discrepancy in writing, where pupils do not perform at the same high level as they do in reading and mathematics.
The quality of teaching at the school is outstanding, with educators providing challenging and stimulating work that allows pupils to build on their skills year after year. Teachers are adept at creating an environment where pupils feel safe and motivated to learn, and their behavior is exemplary both in class and throughout the school. The leadership team, including the headteacher, sets high expectations, which have been maintained over recent years. Regular and thorough evaluations of teaching quality ensure that standards remain high, and the school has shown a strong capacity for further improvement.
The governing body plays a crucial role in supporting and challenging the school, ensuring compliance with all legal requirements. The school is smaller than average, with a predominantly White British student population, and the proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium is below the national average. The school effectively utilizes the pupil premium funding to support eligible students, ensuring they make excellent progress.
To further enhance its performance, the school aims to close the gap in attainment between reading and writing by providing more opportunities for pupils to practice writing longer pieces across various subjects. The inspection highlighted that pupils' achievements are outstanding, with most entering school with skills above the typical level for their age. They make excellent progress in all areas of learning, and by Year 1, many students demonstrate significantly advanced skills.
In terms of teaching quality, the school excels in setting high expectations and utilizing progress data to tailor challenging work for all pupils. Lessons are conducted at a brisk pace, and pupils are engaged in their learning. Teachers effectively use a variety of resources to enhance the educational experience, although there is room for improvement in allowing more time for writing practice in subjects beyond English.
Pupils exhibit outstanding behavior and feel safe within the school environment. They are polite, courteous, and demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility for their learning. The school council actively contributes to school life, reflecting the positive attitudes of the pupils. Attendance rates are above average, indicating a high level of enjoyment among students.
Leadership and management are also rated as outstanding, with the headteacher's commitment to excellence shared by the entire staff. Since the last inspection, there have been significant improvements in mathematics teaching, and leaders have ensured that outdoor learning opportunities are utilized effectively. The local authority has provided valuable training to enhance teaching quality, and the school promotes pupils' spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development through various initiatives.
Overall, St Peter's Church of England Controlled Primary School is a thriving educational institution that fosters high achievement and personal growth among its pupils, demonstrating a strong commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in education.
