The outstanding Leicester primary school where the kids speak 26 different languages

An infant school where the pupils speak 26 languages has been rated outstanding by Government inspectors.

Ofsted has given Catherine Infant School in Leicester top marks describing it as exceptional.

Inspectors have published their verdict on the school in Ulverscroft Road, Belgrave after assessing it in November and praised the staff and the pupils.

Lead inspector Christine Watkins highlighted the fact that most 393 pupils do not speak English as their first language but added: “Staff make sure that this does not hold them back. Pupils achieve extremely well in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 2.”

In fact 26 languages are presently spoken by the children including They include Gujarati, Punjabi,  Hindi, Marathi, Dutch,  Flemish, Turkish, Italian, Nepali, Hungarian and Tamil.

The number is usually more than 30.

Mrs Watkins added: “Pupils told us that they ‘work hard and think carefully’.

“This is exactly what we saw when we visited lessons.

“Teachers plan interesting activities. Pupils are rightly proud of their work.

“The standard of pupils’ work in books is impressive.

“Everyone expects pupils to behave well. Pupils respond eagerly; their behaviour is excellent.

 “Pupils say that they feel safe, and bullying does not happen.

“Lessons and playtimes are calm and happy.

“Leaders have transformed the outside areas since the last inspection.

“There is so much for pupils to do. They get lots of exercise and make friends easily. There are plenty of clubs to join. Pupils can choose from yoga, football, reading, colouring, arts and crafts or gymnastics. They can explore new interests and develop their talents. Parents and carers are supportive of the school. They say that their children are ‘happy and excited to come to school every day’.

The inspectors said the local education authority-run school’s teachers and other staff were ambitious for the pupils and planned a well-organised curriculum which is enriching and demanding.

Inspectors noted that pupils were happy and excited to come to school, and were rightly proud of their work. Staff morale is high, with lots of support for teachers from governors and senior leaders, and there are strong links with parents and the local community.

Pupils get the chance to take part in a wide range of activities and join lots of clubs, with the teaching of reading at the heart of the school. Inspectors said pupils ‘develop a love of books because staff read stories to them every day.’ 

Children who have special educational needs and disabilities also achieve very well at the school, thanks to the ‘skilled and experienced special needs co-ordinator’ who ensures their needs are quickly identified.

What the headteacher says

Headteacher Jill Harrold said: “We’re delighted with this report, which recognises the hard work and dedication of all our staff, governors, parents and of course the children. It’s a real pleasure to work in this great community.

“We’ll continue to work hard to make sure our school is a warm and welcoming place for everyone, where pupils are happy to come to play, learn and achieve.”

Leicester City Council’s assistant city mayor, Coun Elly Cutkelvin, added: “This is a fantastic achievement for everyone at Catherine Infant School and I’d like to offer my congratulations to everyone associated with the school.”