St. Finian's Catholic Primary School

Ofsted is the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. For a link to their website please click here. 

We are delighted to share with you the outcome of our recent Ofsted inspection, which took place on the 19th and 20th May 2026, and to celebrate the many strengths recognised across St Finian’s Catholic Primary School.

The inspection was carried out under Ofsted’s new inspection framework, which places an even greater emphasis on rigour and transparency.

This updated approach looks more closely at the lived experience of pupils, the inclusivity of school practice and the impact of teaching and learning over time. Judgements are now made with increased scrutiny, including a sharper focus on evidence based findings, making it more demanding than previous frameworks. We are therefore particularly proud that the school’s many positive qualities have been recognised so clearly within this more challenging context.

Summary of findings

First and foremost, inspectors recognised a strong culture in which pupils feel safe, are well cared for, and where safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. In particular, we are extremely proud that Ofsted judged both Inclusion and Personal Development and Wellbeing to be at a Strong Standard. This reflects the dedication and commitment of our staff team in ensuring that every child is known, valued and nurtured. Inspectors noted the highly effective support for pupils with additional needs, the strong sense of belonging in the school, and the rich opportunities provided to develop pupils’ character, interests and wider experiences.

Across other areas—including Achievement, Behaviour and Attendance, Curriculum and Teaching, Early Years, and Leadership and Governance—the school was judged to be meeting the Expected Standard. This means that St. Finian’s is providing a secure and effective standard of education, with pupils making steady progress, behaving well, and benefiting from a broad and well-planned curriculum.

Importantly, the inspection team also recognised many key strengths of our school, including:

• The warm, caring relationships between staff and pupils
• Pupils’ positive attitudes, good behaviour and pride in their school
• Above-average attendance, demonstrating how much children enjoy coming to school
• A strong sense of community and shared values, rooted in our Catholic ethos
• The inclusive opportunities that enable all pupils to participate and succeed

The report also acknowledges that leaders are reflective and ambitious for further improvement, particularly in strengthening aspects of writing and ensuring consistently deep learning across the curriculum. As governors, we fully support this focus and will continue to work closely with school leaders to drive these next steps

St Finian’s is a school where children are happy, safe and well prepared for the next stage of their education, and we are very proud of all that has been achieved together.

Our Inspectors said:

"Leaders have established a well thought out and carefully crafted personal development programme.  As a result, pupils' social, moral, spiritual and character education is first rate."

"The school's behaviour curriculum teaches pupils respectful behaviours and attitudes that are modelled by leaders and staff daily."

"The children are well-known to adults.  Warm and caring relationships are seen in abundance."

"Pupils arrive happily each morning excited for the day ahead. Relationships are warm and nurturing between pupils and staff."

"Pupils become resilient, independent and responsible by the time they leave the school.  They are well prepared for their next stages of education."