In a recent inspection, St Cuthbert's Church of England Academy Infants and Pre-School has retained its status as a "good" school.

The inspection took place on 6 and 7 June 2023, with inspectors praising the strong relationships, dedicated staff, and high-quality education provided by the Wells-based institution.

According to the report, pupils at St Cuthbert's "are happy and enjoy school." The strength and warmth of the relationships between pupils and adults are highlighted, with the inspection finding that pupils "feel safe" and "trust adults to help them if they have a problem or a worry."

"Pupils live up to the school motto to 'be kind, take time to think, and try your best.' They work hard in lessons and are proud of their achievements," states the report. Moreover, it asserts that the atmosphere at the school is calm and harmonious, which contributes to the positive behaviours seen amongst pupils.

Regarding the curriculum, the report states that the school leaders have "designed a broad and ambitious curriculum" and "have high expectations of what all pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), should achieve."

In terms of literacy, the school's prioritisation of reading was commended. A strong phonics programme, matching reading materials to the level of students, and promoting a love for books were seen as successful strategies for most children to "learn to read fluently by the end of key stage 1."

However, the report also identified areas for improvement. In some subjects, it was noted that the essential knowledge pupils need to learn was not clearly identified, making it difficult for pupils to build a solid understanding. It was recommended that "leaders must ensure that they identify essential knowledge in all subjects and check pupils' understanding."

Similarly, the report identified a lack of continuity in some subjects between the early years and Years 1 and 2, which impacts the progression of learning. The inspection suggested that leaders need to "strengthen teachers' pedagogical knowledge to ensure that pupils know and remember more."

You can find the report here.