Ofsted rates St Mary and St Michael Catholic Primary School 'good'

St Mary and St Michael Catholic Primary School achieved a "good" rating by Ofsted

A primary school in Guernsey has been rated as "good" in an Ofsted report.

St Mary and St Michael Catholic Primary School achieved the rating in all five categories inspectors considered during their visit on 28 and 29 February, the States said.

Ofsted found school staff and pupils had "strong relationships" and students could be open about "any worries".

Headteacher Helen Willetts said she was proud of what the school had achieved.

Ofsted rates schools as either excellent, good, requires improvement or inadequate.

The school was classed as good in the following categories:

• The quality of education

• Behaviour and attitudes

• Personal development and welfare

• Leadership and management

• Early years provision

'Ambitious curriculum'

The report said pupils at the primary school read a wide variety of "high-quality, age appropriate texts".

It said they were taught an "ambitious curriculum" which had been carefully designed to reflect school values.

The school's teaching supports pupils with special educational needs and disabilities to succeed, it said.

An area of improvement highlighted by Ofsted concerned the way in which the curriculum was taught.

The way it is taught sometimes reduces the progress pupils make, Ofsted said.

"Pupils do not learn to read as quickly as they could because their phonics teaching is not consistently prioritised," the report said.

"Pupils' application of mathematical knowledge is limited because they spend too much time revisiting content they have fully understood."

'Positive attitudes'

Ms Willetts praised staff who she said went "above and beyond" to ensure students received the best possible education.

"Their positive attitudes and eagerness to learn make our school a truly special place," she said.

"I am so proud of what we have accomplished together and I am excited for the future as we continue to strive for excellence in everything we do."