A primary school, which recently celebrated its 70th anniversary, has been praised by Ofsted for ensuring that every child has the opportunity to “let their light shine”.
Pupils “thrive, personally and academically” at St Matthew’s Catholic Primary School in Jarrow, according to a recently published Ofsted report.
Following his inspection of the school, which is part of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, Ofsted lead inspector Steve Wren said in his report: “Pupils thrive, personally and academically, at St Matthew’s Catholic Primary School.
“The school aims to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to ‘let their light shine’. Pupils are able to talk about what this means to them as individuals. Pupils are proud to be themselves and to celebrate the things that make themselves special, but know that while other people may be different, they are equally special.
“This culture of respect permeates all aspects of the school. When issues arise, pupils and adults work together effectively to overcome them. Behaviour in lessons and outside is calm. Relationships are warm and respectful. This is a happy school where attendance is high.”
The proportion of pupils at the school meeting the expected standards in Year 6 national assessments has increased over the past few years and is well above national averages. The school is also highly effective at working with families of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to overcome any potential barriers to achievement.
“Pupils benefit from exceptional personal development opportunities that allow them to be actively involved in the life of the school and the community, for example, members of the eco-group lead a ‘cut the carbon’ programme,” continued the report.
“A wide array of well-attended after school clubs, including karate, enhance pupils’ personal development. One pupil explained the impact of these opportunities: ‘I used to be shy, now I am brave.’
“Through assemblies and taught lessons, pupils develop a strong knowledge of issues such as healthy friendships, protected characteristics and democracy. Pupils talk about how they apply this knowledge to their everyday lives. They have a very strong understanding of the role that faith plays in peoples’ lives.
“The school ensures that pupils learn how to keep themselves safe in their locality and beyond. For example, when new homes were being built in the area, the school invited the building company to deliver assemblies about the dangers of building sites. Staff ensure that these crucial messages are understood by pupils with SEND by providing additional support where necessary.”
Children at the Alnwick Grove primary get off to an “exceptionally strong start” in Reception and staff work with parents and pre-school settings to get to know pupils before they start school. This strong start “develops good behaviours” that continue as pupils move up the school. St Matthew’s was also praised for designing a curriculum that “captures the interests of pupils” and prepares them well for the next stage of their education.
“Leaders, at all levels, are determined that pupils will benefit from an exceptional education that values both academic and personal development,” added the report.
“Governors and trustees have a strong commitment to the school maintaining its own unique identity so that it can serve the local community.”
Headteacher Eve Alderson said: “We are all very proud to achieve such a positive report, which highlights the many successes of St Matthew’s. This could not be achieved without the successful partnerships between children, staff, parents/carers, governors and our Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust. I feel incredibly privileged to be headteacher of such a unique and wonderful school community.”
Ofsted carried out deep dives in early reading, maths and history during the inspection at the end of the autumn term.
For more information about St Matthew’s Catholic Primary School, please visit stmatthewsrc.org
For more information about BCCET, please visit www.bccet.org.uk
ENDS
Photo caption: Headteacher Eve Alderson with pupils at St Matthew’s Catholic Primary School, Jarrow.