The Rosary Catholic Primary School in Stroud, Gloucestershire, has been evaluated positively in its recent inspection, achieving a grade of good across all areas including overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. The school is co-led by Rosy Savory and Paul Batchelor and is part of the Little Way Catholic Educational Trust, which provides additional support and oversight. The trust is managed by CEO Charlotte Blanch and a board of trustees chaired by Andy Pyne.
Upon entering the school, pupils are greeted warmly, reflecting the institution's commitment to fostering a nurturing environment. The school's values emphasize kindness and respect, which are evident in the behaviour of the students. They demonstrate good manners and a welcoming attitude towards visitors, contributing to a positive school culture. Staff members build trusting relationships with pupils, encouraging them to express concerns and seek help when needed. The school has implemented effective measures to address bullying and discrimination, ensuring a safe environment for all students.
The school has made significant strides in improving its curriculum and raising attendance rates. High expectations are set for both academic performance and behaviour, with pupils motivated to earn recognition for adhering to school rules. The curriculum is designed to enhance cultural knowledge through various activities, including trips and extracurricular clubs that promote physical activity. Older students take on leadership roles, contributing to the school community as chaplaincy team members and well-being ambassadors.
The school has actively addressed weaknesses identified in previous inspections by collaborating with expert staff from the trust to enhance leadership and teaching practices. This teamwork has led to sustainable improvements in the school's operations. Reading is a focal point of the curriculum, with initiatives such as reading challenges and storytelling activities that enrich pupils' vocabulary and comprehension skills. Early reading instruction is particularly effective, with staff receiving comprehensive training to ensure high-quality phonics teaching.
The curriculum is structured to provide clear learning objectives from early years through to Year 6, ensuring that knowledge is built upon progressively. However, there are areas for improvement, particularly in subjects that have been recently developed, where pupils struggle to retain knowledge over time. This affects their ability to deepen their understanding of key concepts. Additionally, while teachers demonstrate strong subject knowledge and present information clearly, there are instances of basic punctuation errors in pupils' written work that are not consistently addressed.
The school effectively supports pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, employing strategies to break down barriers to learning. This includes pre-teaching sessions for students who speak English as an additional language, enabling them to participate fully in lessons. Personal development is prioritized, with established behaviour routines and opportunities for older pupils to engage in discussions about important social issues.
Governance is currently in a transitional phase, with many members of the local governing committee being new to their roles. They are aware of the school's priorities and the positive impact of its initiatives on attendance. However, they require more time to assess the effectiveness of the school's work comprehensively. Most parents express satisfaction with the school, highlighting the balance of academic rigor and pastoral care.
The school's safeguarding arrangements are effective, ensuring a safe environment for all students. To further enhance its performance, the school should focus on embedding the curriculum to improve knowledge retention and establish consistent writing routines to address errors in pupils' work. Additionally, the trust should continue to develop the role of governors to ensure effective oversight of the school's strategic direction.
