Newcastle pupils relish responsibility in their schOol

Pupils relish going to a Newcastle primary school which is a safe and happy place with high levels of engagement to help them flourish.

St Alban’s Catholic Primary School has high expectations for behaviour, and the children ‘thrive in the calm and nurturing environment the school has created,” says a recent Ofsted report.

“The quality of pupils’ education is a high priority in the school. The school commits to enhancing pupils’ life choices. Pupils experience learning across a broad range of subjects. Pupils are also taught to read effectively. This helps them take advantage of the ambitious curriculum the school provides,” it adds.

The school, which has 238 pupils aged from three to 11, is a member of the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust and is ‘an important part of the local area.’

Headteacher Martin Smith said the report was a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone associated with St Alban’s Catholic Primary School.

“We value each and every member of our school family and the strength of our community ties were highlighted by the inspection report. All our children are able to enjoy a range of enrichment activities alongside their curriculum learning and we want them to leave here fully prepared for the next stage of their education journey,” he said.

“The leadership team is careful to ensure our curriculum is highly inclusive and we have the same expectations of all our children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.”

The report highlights the pupils’ pride in taking on roles of responsibility and says they relish being house captains and meeting regularly with school leaders. They also take part in a  range of extra-curricular activities, including boxercise classes with their parents and carers.

“In addition, the school provides a taught curriculum that supports personal development. Pupils develop an age-appropriate understanding of the wider world. They are clear about how they can stay safe on and off line,” it says.

The inspector also highlights the school’s place within the community and says leaders engage well with a range of stakeholders and regularly encourages parents and carers to take part in school events. These invitations are appreciated.

“One parent represented the views of many when they said the school is like a family,” says the report.

The inspector also said that in order to improve the school should intensify its actions to improve writing and work to continue implementing the early years curriculum.