A Catholic primary school has been described as a ‘school reborn’ by Ofsted inspectors. St Francis Catholic Primary, on Station Road in Nailsea, was given a ‘Good’ rating across the board by Ofsted in each of the report categories, representing a turnaround since the previous school’s last inspection in 2020.
In 2020, St Francis was judged to be ‘Inadequate’, the lowest grade a school could receive, before closing in 2022 and joining the Cardinal Newman Catholic Educational Trust. The latest inspection last month, the first since reopening, found that the school “initially stabilised and now thrives” since being part of the Trust.
The CEO of the Trust, Dr Danny Doyle, said the inspection is a ‘profound moment’ in the school’s journey. He added that the report was just the beginning for the school.
The report said: “St Francis is a school reborn. Following the difficulties of the predecessor school and the move into the trust, the school initially stabilised, and it now thrives. The school has high ambition for its pupils, by the end of key stage two, they achieve well.
“Pupils are wonderful ambassadors for their school, they are polite, courteous and eloquent and in class, they behave well. St Francis has a nurturing ethos. Older pupils support their younger peers at lunchtimes.
“Adults know pupils well, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They help to adapt their learning as necessary.”
The school ensures that pupils know the importance of ‘contributing to society’ by raising money for a variety of charities and the school choir performs in elderly homes. Pupils are prepared for the next stage of education by the time they leave the primary school.
The report added: “Relationships with parents and carers are highly positive. All parents who completed the Ofsted Parent View survey would recommend the school. They value the visibility of the leadership team and the well-rounded education pupils receive.”
Ofsted heaped praise on to the Trust for guiding the school in its improvements, including in safeguarding where concerns were raised in 2020. Ofsted said safeguarding, as well as other issues, were tackled with urgency, leading to the school being a safer place and staff telling inspectors about the support received from the leadership team.
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St Francis has had support in developing its curriculum by obtaining expertise from other schools in the Trust. The curriculum is now “well-thought-out and logically ordered”. Training means teachers know what to teach and how to teach it, meaning pupils can recall knowledge in the long-term.
The use of assessments is still in development and as a result, some pupils do not extend knowledge when capable. The phonics programme in early years has improved, however the previous curriculum has left some pupils with gaps in their skills, but additional support has meant they are now starting to catch up.
The report said: “The school keeps a close eye on pupils’ attendance. It forensically analyses any changes and takes action as necessary. Consequently, pupils’ attendance is improving and close to national figures.
“The school’s Catholic ethos permeates its work, however, pupils also experience other faiths and cultures. They visit places of worship and participate in events such as ‘International Mass’ days. This helps to prepare them for life in modern Britain.
“Governors and trustees keep a close eye on the school’s performance. They are not afraid to challenge leaders if necessary. Furthermore, they make regular checks on the school’s work, meaning they have an accurate view of the school’s performance.”
“Just the beginning”
Dr Doyle was delighted after the report was released, telling Bristol Live: “This achievement marks a profound moment in our school’s journey. The ‘Good’ Ofsted ratings across all areas are not just about meeting standards, they reflect the heart of our school – a place where every child is known, nurtured, and encouraged to flourish.
“What we’ve accomplished is the result of unwavering dedication from our staff, the support of our governors and trust, and the partnership with our parents, all united by a deep commitment to our children and their future. St Francis is not only a school that has risen; it is a community where children are thriving, becoming confident, compassionate, and prepared for all that lies ahead, and this is just the beginning.”
A parent at the school added: “St Francis is an amazing school with a real family feel where the children are treated as individuals. We’re absolutely delighted with our daughter’s progress, academically and socially and would absolutely recommend St Francis to others.”
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Cath Hanley, the chair of the governors, said: “The governors are so very pleased with the outcome of this inspection. We would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all our staff, both past and present, they have all worked so hard, placing the children at the centre of everything they do.
“An achievement like this is not something that happens overnight and this judgement reflects the dedication and hard work of our entire school community, from our delightful children to our committed staff and wonderfully supportive parents.”
The school was not given an overall judgement due to changes in the way graded inspections are carried out. Ofsted said: “From September 2024, graded inspections will not include an overall effectiveness grade. Schools inspected from then will not have the same way of working out when to expect their next inspection.
“We will set out the expected dates for when we will next inspect them from September 2025. These schools should not expect to receive an ungraded or graded inspection before then. Some could receive an urgent or monitoring inspection, which can be deemed a graded inspection.”
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