The school is smaller than an average-sized primary school. One in four pupils in the school are disabled or have special educational needs, an above-average, proportion compared nationally. A higher-than-average proportion of pupils are disadvantaged and eligible for support through the pupil premium (additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals or in care). Half the pupils in the school are eligible for the pupil premium. Almost three quarters of pupils are White British, with the remainder from a number of other heritage groups. The school’s Early Years Foundation Stage has one full-time Reception class. The 2014 end of Key Stage 2 provisional results show that the school meets the government’s current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils’ attainment and progress. At its last inspection in May 2013, the school was placed in special measures. Since this inspection, there have been a number of changes in staffing. The local authority arranged for the current executive headteacher, who is also the headteacher of St John and Monica Catholic Primary School to join the school in November 2013 as an interim headteacher. She then initiated the school to school support and asked staff from St John and Monica to support the staff at St Columba’s. In November 2013, an IEB was appointed to provide governance for the school. In July 2013 three teachers left the school. In September 2014, the interim headteacher was appointed as the executive headteacher. At the same time five new teachers joined the school. One teacher joined as an assistant headteacher with specific responsibility for leading improvements in English. Another was given responsibility for helping teachers to improve their skills. A senior teacher from St John and Monica is currently responsible for leading improvements in teaching and learning in the early years provision. She also works alongside the usual Reception class teacher for part of the week. At the time of this inspection, this senior teacher was teaching full time in the Reception class. St Columba’s recently received an academy order from the Department of Education. It is expected to become part of a multi-academy trust in 2015.