St Monica Primary School celebrates Good grade by Ofsted

CELEBRATIONS: St Monica Primary School.

Southampton’s St Monica Primary School has been graded Good across the board in an Ofsted inspection.

With 357 pupils aged 4 to 11, the school in Sholing converted to an academy and joined a multi-academy trust with Inspire Learning Partnership in 2022.

Ofsted inspectors praised the school for its positive learning environment, dedicated staff and strong leadership, marking a significant achievement in the school’s development since joining Inspire.

 Among the inspection report’s highlights is the school's commitment to creating a safe and nurturing environment where pupils thrive both academically and personally.

Ofsted found the school to be highly ambitious for all pupils with high expectations for what pupils can achieve.

In the report, Ofsted stated: “Since opening as an academy, the school has improved rapidly. The staff are dedicated. They appreciate the support they receive to manage their workload successfully.

“The school is highly ambitious for all pupils. Throughout the curriculum, the school has identified the key knowledge and skills it wants pupils to learn.”

In another part of the report, Ofsted highlighted: “Parents are overwhelmingly supportive. They appreciate the hard work of the whole staff team and the support from the academy trust.

“One parent summarised the thoughts of others, saying, ‘It is clear to see that the staff have been working constantly to improve things for everyone…the school has gone from strength to strength’.”

Claire Lowe, Chief Executive of Inspire Learning Partnership, said: “This outcome, with a Good rating across the board, is a result of the collaborative work we do across our schools.

“We are so proud of St Monica's progress and how they have embraced the support and expertise available through our partnership. Together, we can build on these successes and ensure further improvements.”

Hayley Clark, Principal, said: “We are delighted to see the progress we have made in our teaching and learning. The staff at St Monica are incredibly reflective and are always striving to improve.

“The success of this inspection reflects the collective commitment of the entire school community to providing the best possible education for our pupils.”

Richard Waghorn, Head of School, shared his pride in the school’s journey: “Being part of this improvement journey has been an incredible experience. I am proud to be part of such a dedicated team that is committed to ensuring every child reaches their potential.”

Following the inspection on 4 and 5 March - the first routine one the school has received since the pandemic - the report referenced the school's commitment to creating a safe and nurturing environment where pupils thrive both academically and personally.

Largely established by former Executive Principal, Lisa Marshall, the school has a carefully planned curriculum designed to ensure that pupils develop key knowledge and skills in a logical sequence.

In particular, the teaching of writing in English is highlighted as a strength, with pupils demonstrating a strong ability to combine ideas and knowledge from various lessons to produce detailed descriptions. 

Reading is prioritised and the school is laying strong foundations for children to learn to read.

Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities was also commended, with inspectors noting that these pupils’ needs are identified early and provisions are expertly adapted to ensure they thrive.

Pupils were found to be highly engaged, with strong attitudes to learning and a sense of pride in their school community.

Pupils understand how to keep themselves safe, including when online. They learn about risks such as cyberbullying and have trusted adults to turn to if they are ever worried or have any concerns.