Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in Barrow continues to be recognized as a good school following its inspection on April 24 and 25, 2024. Under the leadership of headteacher Simone Beach, the school is part of the Mater Christi Multi-Academy Trust, which provides additional oversight and support. The trust is led by CEO Jacky Kennedy and a board of trustees chaired by John Murray.
Pupils at Sacred Heart express happiness about their school experience, appreciating the daily interactions with classmates and the enjoyment of their learning activities. They feel supported by staff, knowing they can approach them with any concerns. The school maintains high expectations for both academic achievement and personal development, with many students aspiring to future careers in diverse fields such as book illustration, film directing, and engineering. The school effectively supports the learning of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, as well as disadvantaged students.
Behavior among pupils is generally positive, with a strong understanding of the school’s mission to treat everyone fairly. Students respect diversity and recognize the importance of equality. The school actively seeks to provide enriching experiences, including partnerships with local organizations that enhance pupils' understanding of social enterprise. Pupils look forward to various trips and extracurricular activities, such as gymnastics, sports, choir, and drama clubs, and they have opportunities to learn musical instruments through expert tuition.
Despite its strengths, the school faces challenges, particularly regarding the curriculum. While the curriculum is broad and ambitious, there are areas where specific knowledge and skills have not been clearly defined or sequenced, leading to gaps in some pupils' understanding. Staff generally demonstrate strong subject knowledge and provide clear explanations, but inconsistencies in the support for early readers hinder some pupils from achieving fluency and accuracy in reading as quickly as they should.
The school has made efforts to address the impact of ongoing issues related to its premises, ensuring minimal disruption to learning by securing additional facilities. The curriculum is designed to be comprehensive, but the school must work on identifying and ordering the essential knowledge that pupils need to learn in certain subjects.
Attendance remains a concern, with too many pupils being persistently absent, which affects their learning and access to broader opportunities. The school is collaborating with the trust to implement a more robust attendance strategy to address this issue.
Overall, pupils demonstrate positive attitudes towards learning, and classrooms are generally calm and focused. The school fosters a sense of belonging among younger children, and pupils engage in various activities that promote their development as responsible citizens. Staff are dedicated and feel supported in their roles, contributing to a family-like atmosphere that parents appreciate.
The safeguarding arrangements in place are effective, ensuring the safety and well-being of all pupils. Moving forward, the school must focus on refining its curriculum, enhancing reading support strategies, and improving attendance to ensure that all pupils can fully benefit from their educational experience.
