The school’s quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and early years provision were all given the inspectors’ second-highest grading, while its provision for personal development and welfare was considered top-tier.
‘This is an excellent and very positive report that recognises the strength of the school’s values, leadership and inclusive nature,’ said Notre Dame school board chair Elizabeth Dene.
‘Notre Dame du Rosaire Catholic Primary School has done brilliantly, and this demonstrates that the school’s development plan was effective and the school was progressing to achieve the highest standards of education for its pupils.’
During the inspection, which took place last month, Ofsted found that students were proud of their school, valued its inclusivity, and both knew and lived its eight ‘Golden Values’, describing the students as having a ‘strong moral code’.
Bullying was not seen as a concern. ‘One pupil reflected the view of many saying, “Everyone is kind and loving and we are never left out”,’ the report stated.
The school, which has pupil population of about 250, was also found to have high academic expectations and good methods in place to identify and support children with additional learning needs, ensuring that they ‘are fully included in all aspects of school life’.
That extra support extends outside the classroom as well, with the report specifically naming ‘The Nest’ – a place where pupils can go when they need help managing their emotions – as an example of the school’s provision for children with additional social, emotional and mental health needs.
Ofsted also noted the school’s non-academic strengths, promoting students’ wider development with extensive offerings in the arts, sports, and trips away from school – be they day trips or residential.
According to the report, the result is pupils who become ‘caring, reflective and independent citizens who have developed a strong sense of character’, and who are prepared ‘exceptionally well’ for life outside school walls.
Another matter of particular note in the report was the school’s particular diverse community, with a number of children not having English as a first language, and its celebration of all its students’ different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs.
‘This inspection outcome highlights the strong leadership and inclusive practice at Notre Dame du Rosaire, with significant acknowledgement of the strong inclusion of pupils with additional learning needs, as well as the ambitious curriculum for all learners,’ said director of Education Nick Hynes.
As for areas for improvement, Ofsted identified areas in the curriculum that might allow for pupils with ‘gaps’ in knowledge to not be identified and supported accordingly.
‘Some checks on how well pupils are learning lack precision,’ it said in the report.
‘At times, the curriculum is not adapted well enough to address misconceptions or gaps in knowledge. This slows the progress some pupils make.’
It added that some pupils are sometimes insufficiently supported in deepening their understanding or developing their vocabulary well enough. It was noted, however, that this may be an issue addressed by training that staff have undertaken, but too recently to see the impact.
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