Ofsted conducted a short inspection of Christ Church C of E Primary School on 18 June 2019, following its previous good rating in July 2013. The inspection confirmed that the school continues to provide a good quality of education. The leadership team, under Mrs. Susan Davies-Beckett, has maintained high standards and has a clear vision rooted in the school's Christian ethos. This vision emphasizes the importance of preparing pupils to contribute positively to society, exemplified by a twinning project with a primary school in Kolkata, India, which includes joint curriculum initiatives.
The leadership team has high expectations for staff and implements a rigorous program of monitoring teaching quality, supported by effective coaching and training. Self-evaluation and development plans are robust, although attendance remains a concern, particularly among disadvantaged pupils. The school has implemented measures to improve attendance, demonstrating that longer-term students show better attendance rates, but this issue remains a priority.
Governance has strengthened significantly, with governors actively holding school leaders accountable and positively impacting areas such as extracurricular activities for disadvantaged pupils. The school is recognized as a listening school, and its practices are now considered best practice within the Derby Diocesan Academy Trust, particularly in early years provision.
Pupils express enjoyment in learning and appreciate the supportive environment that fosters friendships and good behavior. However, they have requested more opportunities for music education. The curriculum includes an enrichment timetable, but there are concerns about ensuring consistent quality across all subjects, prompting plans for a curriculum review.
Parents and carers have expressed high satisfaction with the school, highlighting the friendly staff and welcoming atmosphere. The majority of parents who participated in the Ofsted online survey reported positive experiences, and staff feel proud to work at the school, appreciating the consideration given to their workload.
Safeguarding practices are effective, with a strong culture of safety evident throughout the school. Staff are well-trained to recognize and support vulnerable children, and robust systems are in place for monitoring incidents. Risk assessments are thorough, and pupils feel safe and supported, knowing they can approach trusted adults with concerns.
The inspection focused on mathematics and reading. While improvements in mathematics have been noted, particularly in key stage one, challenges remain in providing appropriate levels of challenge for the most able pupils. In reading, the school's commitment to fostering a love of literature is evident, with initiatives like the Book Club enhancing engagement and improving reading skills.
Leaders are aware of the need to ensure that knowledge is built effectively across all subjects and are planning to review this aspect. The use of pupil premium funding is appropriate, with a focus on supporting disadvantaged pupils, although gaps in attainment and attendance persist.
Next steps for the school include ensuring that mathematics work is appropriately challenging for all pupils, improving attendance rates, particularly for disadvantaged students, and ensuring that the curriculum is well-planned and delivered across all subjects to support knowledge retention and progression.
