An exceptionally strong leadership team, led by a highly motivated headteacher, has maintained the good quality of education at St Anthony’s. You, as headteacher, have an uncompromising desire for the school to constantly improve. You correctly identify the effectiveness of the school as ‘good and improving’. There is a positive learning culture throughout, and as a result, staff take collective responsibility for pupils’ outcomes. Your relentless pursuit for developing the school further and providing the best for the pupils has meant that areas for improvement, highlighted in your last inspection, have been tackled with rigour. Attendance has improved year on year and pupils and parents know that ‘every day every lesson counts’. Staff at the school have shared good practice and have supported schools within the local authority and the Catholic Schools Partnership. Teachers tailor the work set to meet the needs of the pupils and pupils are clear about what they need to do to improve. The most able pupils in key stage 2 are challenged to reach the highest levels and make the best possible progress. Pupils make good progress in English and mathematics; results for the latter at the end of key stage 2 are excellent. Writing is strong and attainment and progress in reading are improving. Provisional results for 2017, at the end of key stage 1, show that pupils’ attainment was above national figures for the expected standard but slightly lower for the greater depth standard. This, along with pupil’s current work, highlight a lack of challenge for the most able. Phonics screening results have been consistently high over the past three years and well above national figures. A slight weakness was recognised in early years and strategies put in place to raise attainment in reading, writing and number. Pupils are fully involved in the life of the school. They realise that they are all ‘special’ and possess a well-developed understanding of the part they play in making everyone feel valued and welcome. There is a shared sense of pride, purpose and responsibility. Older pupils carry out jobs to assist the whole school community and carry out their support roles with diligence and enthusiasm. Pupils are caring, thoughtful and helpful. They said that they enjoy school and are given many opportunities. They value the school’s Catholic ethos and respect one another. The school has established strong links with the Catholic Schools Partnership of 18 primary schools and is held in high regard within this group. It has also provided effective support to other local authority schools. Safeguarding is effective. The leadership team has ensured that safeguarding is effective. The recently updated single central record is comprehensive and meticulously kept. Recordkeeping systems for children at risk are robust and the deputy headteacher attends social services meetings regarding these children. All staff take safeguarding seriously and are fully committed to keeping pupils safe and free from harm. They know what they need to do should they have any concerns. You have ensured that staff and governors have received up-to-date training. Pupils behave well and say that there is rarely any bullying. They feel safe and well cared for in school, and parents and governors agree. Pupils said that they would always go to a member of staff for support. Pupils talk confidently about staying safe online and in the local community. Pupils show a good awareness of road safety and have attended training sessions. Governors have made sure that safeguarding arrangements are fully compliant. In the past year, the safeguarding governor has worked on the single central record to bring about improvement. Other governors have received a variety of training, including in safer recruitment. The health and safety governor ensures that the safety of the building is checked on a termly basis. Parents spoken to all agreed that they felt that the school was a safe environment for their children. These views were reinforced on Parent View, where 97% of respondents agreed that ‘their child felt safe at school’ and 98% agreed that ‘their child was well looked after’.