DIOCESAN MONITORING VISIT
School: / St. James’ Catholic Primary School
Headteacher: / Sally Brown
Chair of Governors: / John Smith
Date of the Visit: / 19 March 2013
Visit carried out by: / Helena Pickering
Date of last Validation: / March 2009
Number of pupils on roll: / 230
Percentage of Catholic pupils: / 92.9%
Percentage of Catholic staff: / 55.8%

Activities Carried Out as Part of the Visit

  • Ethos walk.
  • Discussion on the school’s self-evaluation sheets.
  • Observation of a key stage 2 class worship.
  • Joint observations of teaching and learning in RE, with the headteacher and RE leader.
  • Joint pupil work scrutiny with the RE leader.
  • Feedback of key findings to the headteacher, deputy headteacher and RE leader.

Key Findings

  • St. James’ is a school where the whole community are fully committed to the self review process and to ensuring their self-evaluation sheets are regularly updated. They are to be commended for this.
  • Since the last validation, there is a new deputy headteacher and RE leader in post. The school community has continued to work hard to maintain and further improve the existing good (B2, B3, C2) and outstanding judgements (A1,A2, A3, B1, C1) for all sections. As an outstanding Catholic school, the community is determined not to be complacent and continually strives to be the best that they can be for the pupils.

From the evidence seen during the visit and the discussions held with the Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and the RE leader these judgements are secure.

  • Throughout the school there is firm evidence that you are within a community of faith. Particularly strong examples include:
  • The centrality of the revised mission statement in the life of the school and the community and the palpable living out of that mission statement.
  • The warmth of the welcome received by visitors.
  • The care, kindness and support in evidence among all staff, pupils, governors and parents.
  • The outstanding attitudes and behaviour of the pupils.
  • The introduction of prayer buddies in thefoundation stage, year 3 and year 6 to ensure that pupils experience community, quality prayer experiences and build relationshipsbetween pupils.This system will be extended to all year groups.
  • The sending of cards of prayer and welcome by year 5 to their prayer buddies in the upcoming foundation stage.
  • The regular attendance of prayer buddies at mass in the parish.
  • The commitment of all staff to continually improving RE teaching and learning.
  • The passion and drive of the new RE leader.
  • The support of teaching assistants in lessons and throughout the school.
  • The determination of the leadership team to continually strive for improvement and avoid complacency.
  • The quality of staff prayer sessions and the willingness of staff to lead these sessions in turn.
  • The commitment to the provision of a parent support worker to work with parents to support, reassure and advise on behaviour related issues.
  • The commitment of the headteacher and parent support worker in greeting parents at the gate every morning to further strengthen the existing strong relationships. All members of the senior leadership team also take on this role on a rota basis.
  • The quality of the displays linked to worship and RE both within each classroom and in the central areas of the school.
  • The obvious care given to ensuring the school environment is maintained to a high standard.
  • The teaching observed throughout the school during the visit showed a strong commitment to providing an RE curriculum that is engaging, active and of a good quality. Excellent use was made of IT and role play.
  • Discussions with pupils during lessons gave them the opportunity to demonstrate their very good subject knowledge.
  • The outstanding class worship observed on the day was prayerful and reflective.

Progress on Items Identified at the Last Validation

  • The school’s website is extremely informative and helps to keep the local and wider community informed.
  • The school is continuing to develop assessment procedures in line with diocesan guidelines and the new RE leader is confident in the steps necessary to further enhance current assessment for learning.
  • There is a strong commitment to supporting parents with children’s behavioural issues and involving them in providing positive strategies and support for improvement.

Future Actions

In order to continue to move forward, the school may like to consider the following:

  • Ensure there is consistency across all year groups with regard to the provision of a range of appropriate differentiated activities which allow all children to confidently demonstrate knowledge and understanding of RE.
  • Ensure consistency in correcting key religious vocabulary and using developmental marking.
  • Ensure consistency in leading short class worship sessions that continue to promote stillness and reverence in order to encourage children to pray and reflect.

Helena Pickering

Primary Adviser

cc.Headteacher

Chair of Governors

Director of Schools

13 Dec – example of a monitoring report