Ofsted conducted a no formal designation inspection of St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School on 12 December 2019. The purpose of this inspection was to assess the quality of education in specific subjects at outstanding primary schools. The findings confirmed that the overall effectiveness judgement of outstanding from the last section 5 inspection remains unchanged.
The inspection revealed that the school had evaluated its whole-school curriculum the previous year and identified French as a significant weakness due to staffing issues and ineffective teaching. In response, school leaders decided to pause the teaching of languages for one to two terms to reevaluate the subject plans and develop a new scheme for a more effective foreign language curriculum. Since the curriculum review, pupils have had access to some language learning within their wider curriculum, particularly during the autumn term, where they learn about different countries, cultures, customs, and religions. Plans are now in place to reintroduce the teaching of a foreign language in summer 2020.
The new plans developed by school leaders are ambitious and aim to ensure that all pupils acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to become proficient linguists. The school recognizes the importance of a solid foundation in letters and sounds in both English and a foreign language, which prepares pupils well for key stage 2. The new subject plans in languages emphasize the teaching of phonics, grammar, and vocabulary, addressing previous gaps in the teaching of French.
To support the implementation of the new curriculum, the school is collaborating with the local secondary school to ensure that all staff receive the necessary training and subject-specific knowledge. The school envisions that the new foreign language, either French or Spanish, will be integrated into all aspects of school life, including its inclusion in the Lord’s prayer.
Pupils understand the value of learning a new language and can articulate how it may benefit them in the future. They expressed dissatisfaction with their previous French lessons, stating that they were not challenging enough. In the past, pupils were taught a large number of words without the foundational skills needed to use them effectively in sentences. However, pupils currently learning languages in the wider curriculum speak highly of their experiences. For instance, Year 6 pupils studying South America reported learning Spanish and Portuguese words and applying them throughout their topic studies.
The school is a smaller-than-average primary institution with 191 pupils enrolled. It is a Catholic faith school, and the proportions of pupils from minority ethnic groups and those entitled to free school meals are below average. The school has a broadly average proportion of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
The inspection findings indicate that the school is committed to improving its language curriculum and ensuring that pupils receive a high-quality education. The leadership team is proactive in addressing weaknesses and is focused on providing a curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils. The positive feedback from pupils regarding their current language learning experiences suggests that the school is on the right path to enhancing its foreign language education. The collaborative efforts with local secondary schools and the ambitious plans for the future demonstrate a strong commitment to continuous improvement in the quality of education provided at St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School.
