St James Good in all areas - Ofsted

St James Church School in Taunton is celebrating a highly positive report from Ofsted.

Inspectors who visited the 500-pupil school at the end of November judged it to be good in all areas: leadership and management, quality of education, early years provision, and children’s behaviour and attitudes and their personal development.

The Ofsted team’s report praised the “calm and safe” school, saying: “Pupils are proud to attend this inclusive and welcoming school.

“Warm and caring relationships between staff and pupils help build a sense of community. Pupils at St James are proud to say that they care for one another.

“The school’s multicultural diversity is celebrated by all at every turn. Pupils are respectful of the views and beliefs of others.”

The inspectors noted the children’s work with local and national politicians to improve nearby parks and the range of visitors including the police who helped pupils learn important messages from different trusted adults.

A commitment to improving behaviour management was also highlighted.

“Staff have high expectations and adopt a consistent approach to managing behaviour. This has led to a significant reduction in the number of behavioural incidents and suspensions. As a result, the school is calm and pupils throughout the school behave well.”

The report said: “The school is emerging from a period where there have been significant changes to staffing and the curriculum. The trust, headteacher and the senior leadership team have managed these changes sensitively and effectively. They have supported the staff to develop a curriculum that is broad and ambitious for all pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).”

St James is part of Bath & Wells Multi Academy Trust. The inspectors said: Staff are committed to playing their part on the school’s journey of improvement. They feel supported by trustees and governors.”

Among the curriculm successes noted were:

• The curriculum has been designed to build knowledge and skills progressively from the early years.
• Reading is at the heart of the curriculum
• Pupils with SEND are well supported
• Skilled staff support those children who join the school speaking English as an additional language.

Some subject areas were said to need developing and embedding, while the inspectors identified a need for more staff training in phonics teaching.

 

Headteacher Nigel Johnson said: “We are delighted with this Ofsted report. The inspectors have really captured the strengths of our school, with its wonderful children and families and dedicated staff. We will continue to strive to give our community the excellent school it deserves.”

 

 

St James Church School in Taunton is celebrating a highly positive report from Ofsted.