A HEREFORD school has been praised for how it has tried to limit the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, its latest Ofsted inspection revealed.

Our Lady's Catholic Primary School in Boycott Road has retained its good rating.

Lead inspector Martin Spoor said pupils were happy and confident at the school, had "enquiring minds" and enjoyed learning.

"Bullying is extremely rare," he added.

"Pupils know that there are always adults to talk to and that any problems are resolved straight away.

"Parents and carers appreciate how effectively staff address any concerns. They share their children’s enthusiasm for school."

He said pupils, who dress smartly, learn a wide range of different subject, and teachers had high expectation of them.

"Older pupils, including those with English as an additional language, are confident and express themselves well," Mr Spoor added.

"Pupils study a range of cultures and traditions in subjects such as history and religious education."

Speaking about how the school responded to Covid, Mr Spoor said: "Leaders have worked hard to limit the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Staff have identified the gaps in pupils’ learning, and are helping them to catch up.

"Many staff have joined the school recently and settled well. Staff appreciate the effective support that they receive from senior leaders."

He said the senior leaders, led by headteacher Kathy Weston, had designed a well-structured and broad curriculum, and teachers had a secure knowledge of their subjects. Reading was also a high priority of the school's.

He said: "Staff make sure that work matches pupils’ abilities.

"Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities learn well.

"Staff have a detailed knowledge of these pupils’ abilities and any barriers to learning."

While the school, with 185 pupils aged between four and 11, was praised in most areas, inspectors said after their visit on January 12 and 13 that there were some inconsistencies in how phonics were taught due to some teachers being new to the school.

" Leaders should ensure that all staff who teach early reading are fully trained in the approach that the school uses," the report said.

The other area the school needed to improve on, inspectors said, was the new curriculum.

"The school should build on the success of its introduction by ensuring that all subject leaders have the skills and the

opportunity to check on how effectively staff are implementing the subject for which they are responsible," the report said.

"This will enable them to make any amendments to the curriculum and to provide staff with additional guidance."