St Chad’s CE Primary School praised by inspector as a ‘welcoming place where pupils thrive’
12 February 2025
The proud head of a Lichfield primary school said a glowing Ofsted report prompted an emotional response from staff who have worked relentlessly to refine the curriculum and create an inclusive environment for pupils.
Jennifer Aitken, Head of School at St Chad’s CE Primary School, said: “The feedback was overwhelmingly positive to the point where there wasn’t a dry eye when we fed it back to staff!
“They’ve worked relentlessly hard to get the school to a place we’re proud of and, while we’re still not standing still, to have that recognition was an emotional moment for all of us.
“A lot of the teachers have been here a very long time, so they felt very proud to see how far we’ve come.”
The report into the school, which is part of the respected Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP), described St Chad’s as a ‘welcoming place where pupils thrive’.
The two-day inspection in December was the first routine inspection at St Chad’s since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Highly ambitious
The inspector was impressed by the nurturing and supportive atmosphere at St Chad’s, noting that pupils feel happy and safe in school knowing that the adults will “always listen to their worries”.
The report states that: “The school is ambitious for all pupils. Adults ensure that they are all included and can access learning successfully.”
This inclusiveness was further recognised in the report, with the inspector praising how pupils with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) are “identified swiftly” and provided with “effective support”.
According to the report: “Pupils learn about different cultures, faiths and lifestyles. They are respectful of difference and welcoming to all.
“In class, teaching is highly engaging and enthuses pupils to learn. Pupils use their own tablet to record their learning, ideas and reflections. Staff use this information to check how well pupils understand. They adapt future work to meet their needs or to provide greater challenge.
“This thoughtful use of technology is also one very effective way that pupils with SEND can seamlessly access the same learning as their classmates.”
Mrs Aitken said: “We’ve done a lot of work on EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion) so we have books which represent every child here. We want them all to have a sense of belonging; while also learning about other people so they can start to build empathy.”
The curriculum itself was described as “broad and ambitious” and “designed with the pupils’ needs in mind”. The Ofsted inspector sat in on a number of lessons and came away with the conclusion that ‘teaching is highly engaging and enthuses pupils to learn’.
In particular, the inspector was pleased with how readers at St Chad’s are supported, both in lessons and outside.
The report says: “Consistent, high-quality phonics teaching means pupils learn to read quickly. In early years, expert staff support children to develop language. Older pupils read a range of different books and authors. This promotes a strong love of reading.”
Mrs Aitken said: “Emily Cornwell, our English Lead, has done a fantastic job of creating an immersive atmosphere around reading across the school.
“The staff here are also all readers – there are always conversations in the staff room about what we’re all reading at the moment and we even thought about making a staff book club! It’s a passion we try to share with the children, especially as reading unlocks the rest of the curriculum.”
The pupils’ learning at St Chad’s focuses around the themes of kindness, faith and honesty. According to the inspector, they displayed these values with pride across the school, including during socialising.
They noted that “pupils are polite and they behave well” and praised the school’s buddy system, pupil playleaders and creativity crib as excellent initiatives to help pupils support each other.
The inspector also praised the school’s curriculum.
Mrs Aitken explained: “We’ve been refining our entire curriculum, starting with English and maths. We then moved on to geography and history and are now refining our art curriculum.
“We have future plans for PE, music, DT and science. There’ll never be an end point as the world around us is continually evolving, so we need to evolve with that.”
The report noted that the curriculum extended beyond the classroom, with school trips and residential visits supporting pupils’ learning. According to the inspector, this allows pupils to connect with the world and community around them.
Supporting the environment, charities and community
The school allotment, pond and wildflower meadow, alongside the Nursery children’s weekly ‘welly walks’ were celebrated for how they teach pupils to respect the environment. Charity work, litter-picking and community work were also highlighted as creating a vibrant, community-based school atmosphere.
The backbone of the school is, of course, its staff, who were highly praised by the inspector.
The inspector noted: “Since joining the trust (ATLP), leaders and staff have worked together to bring about improvements. A strong, shared vision and a determination that every pupil can succeed ensure that the school takes decisive action to sustain and further improve provision for all pupils.
“The school’s clear focus on staff wellbeing and workload and its sharp decision-making means there is a happy and close-knit staff team working in the best interests of pupils.”
Mrs Aitken added: “Being part of the ATLP is a huge benefit to the school. From a personal perspective, ATLP have been so supporting and encouraging.
“The professional development they offer is fantastic, so we’re all constantly collaborating and keeping up with the latest research. We bounce ideas off each other and we have a very close team.”
St Chad’s Ofsted – report highlights:
- Learning is organised so that pupils build their new knowledge on secure foundations.
- Early English and mathematics are prioritised so that all pupils get off to a strong start.
- Established routines contribute to a calm and purposeful learning environment.
- All pupils experience outdoor learning to develop teamwork and problem-solving.
- All pupils are included in opportunities to take part in sports events and a range of clubs.
- Leaders at all levels, including trustees, contribute greatly to the school’s success.
- Staff benefit from targeted professional development that helps them develop their expertise to teach the curriculum.
- Parents and carers feel welcome and included in school life right from the start and are highly positive about the school.
Main picture: Delighted St Chad’s Head of School Jennifer Aitken with happy and committed pupils.
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