School getstop marks from Ofsted

Education inspector Eira Gill said St Mary's Catholic Primary School provided an outstanding level of spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils.

She issued her report within two weeks of the school retaining its Investors in People Award for the second time and its Work Life Balance Award, being described as '˜an excellent example of an investor in people'.

National healthy school status and West Sussex healthy school status were also achieved.

Ms Gill said the pupils had exemplary behaviour and exceptional understanding of healthy life styles with total regard for their safety and that of others.

The children's emotional maturity was also praised as a direct outcome of the excellent opportunities provided by the school.

Pupil care was also judged as outstanding.

Ms Gill judged standards in years two and six were in line with those expected for the children. Those year groups had recently improved in maths. Overall, pupils' achievement at the Glamis Street school was satisfactory along with the teaching.

Ms Gill reported that attendance of the 237 children was above average because they enjoyed their lessons and felt valued, safe and secure.

However, she and her two assistant inspectors who spent a day at the school in May said some areas needed improvement.

These were to ensure that expectations of pupils were high, teaching was well paced and all lessons matched the best.

Marking by teachers should also be improved along with the tracking procedures to review the progress of pupils.

The governors have put plans in place to achieve the improvements.

Tony Lucas, the school's chairman of governors, said: 'We are very proud of the success of our school and are so pleased that so many positive elements of our school have been praised.

Headteacher Katherine Amaladoss said: 'Every child is valued, cared for and recognises they have a positive contribution to make to their school, local and global community.'