Ofsted/RE Reports
We are delighted that Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Primary School has retained its ‘good’ judgement by Ofsted in our latest inspection (April 2024).
It is the collective work of everyone which creates a school in which we are immensely proud of. Rightly, the Inspectors recognised that:
“Staff are deeply committed to ensuring the best possible outcomes for pupils. They have very high expectations for pupils. These high expectations are met.” and “Pupils’ behaviour and attitudes typify the school’s seven core values or ‘virtues’. These include resilience, respect and courage. Pupils are highly respectful and polite.”
There’s been a lot of hard work behind the scenes to maintain this ‘good’ judgement, and we are thrilled that the hard work of our staff has been recognised.
Whilst not everything can be placed in the report itself, there were so many comments made and things noticed over the course of the inspection that I wanted to share with you:
- The school has exemplary young people.
- Lots of things at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Primary School really glow and shine and the school should be very proud of all they do.
- Teachers are very ‘Little Wandle’ (phonics scheme in place) and have complete fidelity to the shared approach.
- PE is highly ambitious and progressive. Children are acquiring not only skills but knowledge through the way we teach PE and there were great examples of children leading their own learning in PE.
- Maths was impressive and there is a clear rationale for the maths curriculum. There were high levels of consistency across school and effective approaches to support children to justify reasoning and think deeply. Leaders were strong and passionate.
- EYFS is an area of real strength. Provision is well planned and impressive and prepares our children for Year 1. Children were seen to be independent and co-operative.
- In lessons, there were suitable adaptations, needs had been successfully identified and therefore progress for SEND children was evident.
- Children are positive, impressive, polite and respectful. Evidence of high expectations and children’s positive attitudes to learning was seen across school.
- Children spoken to were impressively knowledgeable about other curriculum areas to the core curriculum.
- Personal development is a real strength of the school. Pupils are ambitious and prepared for life in modern Britain.
- There is a positive and open culture of safeguarding. Children reported feeling safe in school.
- There was a strong sense from all staff that all that they do, they do for the children – the children are placed at the centre of all the school does.
As you know, Ofsted is only one aspect of how we measure our success – our true measure remains our children. The children have and always will remain at the heart of all we do. We strive to help all children to recognise their talents, build on their strengths, recognise where they may find something tricky and help them to have the skills to move forward from this. We strive to create caring, thoughtful and passionate pupils who are proud of themselves and the communities they live in, and we are pleased that Ofsted recognised this in their report and praised the school and the pupils for this.
This is a fantastic achievement for everyone in our school and the entire Immaculate Heart of Mary community. I hope that you will join us in celebrating this great success and spread the word to the entire community just how amazing Immaculate Heart of Mary is and how exceptional its children and staff are!
Miss F Clark (Headteacher)
Please click here for a full copy of the report.
Please click here for our latest RE Inspection Report (November 2021) OE Grade OUTSTANDING