St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Chippenham, Wiltshire, underwent an inspection on May 11 and 12, 2022. The overall effectiveness of the school was rated as requiring improvement, with specific areas such as the quality of education, leadership and management, and early years provision also marked as requiring improvement. However, the school demonstrated good performance in behavior and attitudes, as well as personal development.
Pupils at St Mary’s are described as confident, happy, polite, and considerate. They show respect towards their peers and adults, and they understand the difference between bullying and normal disagreements, reporting that bullying does not occur. The school fosters a supportive community that values diversity and prepares pupils for life in modern Britain. Pupils take pride in their roles of responsibility, such as being members of the school council or the chaplaincy group. Enrichment activities, including outdoor learning and residential visits, help develop essential life skills and promote teamwork.
Despite these positive aspects, the inspection highlighted significant gaps in pupils' subject knowledge, particularly in mathematics. Pupils lack regular opportunities to apply their mathematical knowledge to problem-solving and reasoning, which hinders their skill development. While leaders have prioritized reading, ensuring that phonics knowledge among staff is secure and that pupils receive appropriate support, the mathematics curriculum does not sufficiently develop pupils' knowledge.
The school has made strides in crafting well-sequenced curriculums for English, mathematics, and science. However, the implementation of the mathematics curriculum needs improvement to ensure that pupils can apply their knowledge across various contexts. The art and history curriculums have recently been developed, but the impact of staff absence due to COVID-19 has slowed progress in other subjects. In these areas, essential knowledge is not clearly identified, making it difficult for teachers to assess and address gaps in pupils' understanding.
The school effectively supports pupils with special educational needs and disabilities by collaborating with external agencies. Leaders are working to enhance the individual target-setting process with more input from parents and carers. Staff prioritize pupils' well-being, teaching them about physical and mental health, and promoting an understanding of different cultures and faiths through whole-school worship and discussions.
Attendance at the school is regular, and leaders actively help families overcome barriers to attendance. Governors are becoming more effective in their roles, increasingly challenging school leaders and holding them accountable. Staff appreciate the support they receive from leaders in managing their workload and recognize their commitment to staff well-being.
The safeguarding arrangements at St Mary’s are effective, with appropriate checks in place for staff and volunteers. Staff are trained in safeguarding procedures and understand their responsibilities. Pupils are educated on how to keep themselves safe, including online safety.
To improve, the school needs to identify key concepts across the curriculum, particularly in the early years, to help pupils build knowledge over time. Addressing gaps in knowledge in foundation subjects is essential for securing pupils' understanding. Additionally, teachers must ensure that pupils regularly apply their mathematical knowledge to problem-solving and reasoning tasks to enhance their skills and vocabulary. Overall, while St Mary’s Catholic Primary School has made progress since its previous inspection, there are still areas that require focused improvement to enhance the educational experience for all pupils.
