OFSTED
We are proud to share the outcome of St Lawrence Catholic Primary School’s Ofsted inspection, which took place on 6 and 7 January 2026. Inspectors judged Attendance and Behaviour to be at the Strong standard, all other areas evaluated to be at the Expected standard, and Safeguarding to be Met.
Ofsted’s renewed framework, introduced in November 2025, evaluates different aspects of school life separately.
This is an achievement for our whole community. We are a school at the heart of our local area, and this report recognises the care, ambition and shared commitment that exists between home, school and parish. It reflects what we see every day. Families value education, children are proud to belong to their school, and staff go above and beyond to provide the very best opportunities for every pupil.
Strong progress and achievement: Inspectors recognised that pupils make good progress across the curriculum, including disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and disabilities. They found that many children join us with substantial gaps in their knowledge or development and that these gaps close by the end of primary school. They also highlighted above-average Year 6 attainment in reading, writing and mathematics combined.
We believe this journey from children’s starting points to their achievements at the end of Year 6 demonstrates the strength of education at St Lawrence. In a school where children bring a wide range of languages, experiences and learning needs, the progress they make is central to understanding how successfully they achieve.
Our subsequent 2026 Year 6 results, achieved after the inspection, provide further evidence of this strength. Attainment was above national figures in reading, writing, mathematics, grammar, punctuation and spelling, and the combined reading, writing and mathematics measure. We are proud of what our children accomplish and the sustained work that enables them to succeed.
Understanding the changes to Ofsted’s guidance: From September 2026, Ofsted revised its inspection guidance to make more explicit how inspectors should consider a school’s context when evaluating achievement. Inspectors now consider outcomes in schools with similar pupil characteristics alongside national averages. The updated guidance also explicitly directs inspectors to consider pupils’ progress from their starting points across the curriculum.
These changes provide a fuller basis for recognising achievement in schools serving communities such as ours. Considering where children begin, the barriers they overcome and what they go on to learn helps explain the strong achievement behind their results. National attainment figures form part of that picture, alongside evidence of children’s learning and progress over time.
Our inspection took place before these revisions came into effect. Ofsted has advised us that earlier reports will not be retrospectively reassessed under the revised guidance. We welcome the clearer emphasis on context and progress, which we believe would have strengthened the recognition of our pupils’ achievements.
Attendance, behaviour and belonging: Inspectors described pupils’ behaviour as exemplary and recognised the calm, purposeful environment in which children are eager to learn. They also highlighted our above-average attendance and the work staff do with families to help children attend regularly.
These findings reflect our Catholic mission and the relationships at the heart of St Lawrence. Through Gospel values and Catholic Social Teaching, our children learn to care for one another, take responsibility and contribute to their community. Staff model these values every day, creating an environment in which children feel welcomed, valued and ready to learn.
Our Catholic life and mission: Our Catholic Schools Inspectorate (Section 48) inspection, held in November 2024, evaluated Catholic life and mission, religious education and collective worship. St Lawrence achieved the highest grade in all nine areas assessed.
Together, the two reports recognise important strengths in our school’s academic and spiritual life and our commitment to helping every child flourish.
This outcome belongs to all of us.
Thank you to our families for your trust, encouragement and partnership, and for the vital role you play in your children’s education. Thank you to our governing body, who give their time voluntarily and work tirelessly behind the scenes to support and challenge the school. Their commitment to our mission and strategic direction is invaluable.
A very special thank you goes to our staff for their unwavering dedication, professionalism and care, particularly in an increasingly challenging educational landscape. Most importantly, thank you to our wonderful children, who live out our values every day and make our school such a joyful and inspiring place to be.
We hope you enjoy reading the report and celebrating this wonderful achievement with us. It is something our entire community can be truly proud of.
With warmest thanks,
The Senior Leadership Team
Reports and further information