SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, located on Olive Street in South Shields, has recently undergone an inspection on March 26 and 27, 2024, and has been reaffirmed as a good school. Under the leadership of Headteacher Maria Butt, the school is part of the Bishop Chadwick Catholic Academy Trust, which plays a significant role in its governance and operational success.
Pupils at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School express a strong sense of belonging, describing the school community as a family. The school’s Catholic ethos fosters a caring environment where students feel safe and supported. Staff members are dedicated to nurturing positive relationships with pupils, ensuring that each child has a trusted adult to turn to within the school.
The school maintains high expectations for both academic achievement and behavior. An ambitious curriculum is in place, designed to help pupils excel academically. The curriculum is carefully structured to ensure that essential knowledge, skills, and vocabulary are effectively taught. For instance, the art curriculum has been enhanced to focus on developing pupils' drawing skills, resulting in impressive artwork that showcases their progress over time.
In the classroom, pupils demonstrate positive attitudes towards learning, actively participating in lessons and exhibiting good behavior. Staff members employ skilled questioning techniques to identify and address any misconceptions, ensuring that gaps in knowledge are swiftly filled. However, the school has recognized the need for improvement in mathematics, particularly in providing pupils with more opportunities to develop their problem-solving and reasoning skills.
The school is committed to inclusivity, welcoming pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) into the classroom. Teachers adapt activities to ensure that all pupils can engage with the curriculum alongside their peers. Additionally, the school places a strong emphasis on early years education, focusing on developing speech and language skills, as well as foundational reading, writing, and mathematics.
Reading is a high priority at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School. The phonics program is consistently implemented by trained staff, and children are introduced to nursery rhymes and stories from an early age. This approach fosters a love for reading, with pupils enjoying selecting books from the school library that match their reading abilities.
The school promotes personal development by teaching pupils about different faiths and beliefs, broadening their horizons through trips and visits linked to the curriculum. Pupils are also encouraged to engage in community work and take on leadership roles, such as house leaders and members of the school council.
While the school has many strengths, there are areas that require attention. Attendance remains a challenge for some pupils, including those with SEND, which can hinder their overall progress. The school is actively working to improve attendance rates through enhanced collaboration with parents. Additionally, the school is in the process of embedding improvements in mathematics to ensure that all pupils can reach their full potential.
Overall, SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School continues to be a good school, providing a nurturing and ambitious environment for its pupils. With a strong focus on academic achievement, personal development, and community engagement, the school is well-positioned to support its students in their educational journey. The commitment of the staff, the supportive school community, and the effective governance of the Bishop Chadwick Catholic Academy Trust all contribute to the school’s ongoing success.
