Our Lady and St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy located in Bradford, West Yorkshire, was inspected on 27 and 28 September 2023. The overall effectiveness of the school was rated as requiring improvement, with the quality of education also marked as requiring improvement. However, the school demonstrated good performance in areas such as behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.
The acting headteacher, Sarah Delany, leads the school, which is part of the Blessed Christopher Wharton Catholic Academy Trust. The trust is overseen by a board of trustees chaired by Joe McDonnell. The school has embraced the Diocese of Leeds’ ‘Virtues to Live By’ programme, which promotes values such as respect, courtesy, and thankfulness. This initiative has fostered a positive environment where pupils treat each other with kindness and respect. Most pupils exhibit good behaviour, and when they face challenges in managing their emotions, staff provide appropriate support to help them regain focus.
Despite the positive aspects, the school is in the early stages of developing an ambitious curriculum. There are significant gaps in pupils' knowledge due to a lack of effective sequencing in the curriculum. This has hindered their ability to build on prior knowledge, resulting in insufficient learning in some subjects. The school is working to address these issues, particularly in mathematics, where pupils are beginning to acquire essential knowledge and skills. The early years provision is strong, with children quickly developing their understanding of numbers and demonstrating impressive concentration during activities.
Reading is prioritized at the school, with staff receiving training to support pupils in developing their phonics knowledge. From Reception onwards, children are matched with books that correspond to their phonetic understanding, allowing them to become confident readers. The school has invested in new reading materials, which has begun to motivate pupils to read more widely. Most pupils express enjoyment in reading, and those who struggle receive targeted support to help them catch up.
The school offers a variety of extracurricular activities, allowing pupils to explore their interests and talents. Initiatives such as the ‘Stewards of the Earth’ program promote global citizenship, preparing pupils for their future roles in society. The inclusive culture established by the leadership team ensures that all pupils have opportunities to participate in these activities.
Governance at the school is effective, with trustees providing both challenge and support to the leadership team. The newly formed leadership team is dedicated to enhancing the quality of education, and staff feel valued and supported in their roles. The school has established a well-structured approach to personal development, with pupils demonstrating a strong understanding of democracy and the importance of respect and tolerance.
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, ensuring that pupils feel safe and supported. The school is committed to addressing the areas identified for improvement, particularly in ensuring that the curriculum is well sequenced and that tasks are appropriately focused on the knowledge and skills pupils need to acquire. By addressing these challenges, the school aims to enhance the educational experience for all its pupils and ensure they are well-prepared for their future.
