Atherton St George’s CE Primary School rated 'good'

Atherton St George’s CE Primary School and Little Dragons’ Nursery has been rated ‘good’ in all areas after a recent Ofsted inspection on June 20 and 21.

The report confirms that the school located on Derby Street, Atherton, has been rated good for the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management and early years provision.

According to the report, ‘in line with one of the school’s values, pupils strive to shine’ and pupils said that they ‘feel happy and safe in school’.

The report states the quality of education is ‘ambitious’.

It states: “Leaders have designed an ambitious, exciting curriculum for pupils, including for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

“Pupils respond well to leaders’ high expectations for their achievement. Pupils work hard in their lessons, and they are encouraged by staff to do their best.

“For the most part, leaders have designed a well-ordered curriculum for pupils, including children in the early years. This helps pupils to build successfully on what they know already.

Atherton St George’s CE Primary School and Little Dragons’ Nursery

“The curriculum ensures that learning flows seamlessly from when children join the school in the provision for two-year-olds or the Nursery and Reception classes through to Year 6.”

As well as highlighting the strengths of the children’s education, inspectors have also commended the work the school does for children’s development.

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The report states: “Leaders have made pupils’ personal development an absolute priority. Pupils benefit from a wide-ranging programme of activities that help them to learn important information.”

The inspectors also noted the highly effective support that pupils are given to develop their reading.

The report states: “Leaders have prioritised a love of reading throughout the school. For example, pupils benefit from reading a wide range of texts together in class.

“Pupils are keen to talk about literary characters that they come across in these texts. Leaders have made sure that staff are equipped well to deliver the phonics programme.

“This ensures that there is a consistent approach to the teaching of early reading across the school.

“Staff ensure that pupils practise reading by choosing books for them that are matched closely to the sounds that they have learned.

“As a result, pupils’ confidence in their own reading ability improves over time.”

Atherton St George’s CE Primary School and Little Dragons’ Nursery pupils (Image: The Wings)

Inspectors have also included ways in which the school needs to improve in the future.

The report states: “From time to time, some staff do not identify those few pupils who are not keeping up with the phonics programme.

“This prevents these pupils from receiving timely support to help them catch up.

“Leaders should ensure that staff are skilled in identifying and supporting those pupils who are struggling to keep up with the early reading curriculum.

“In a few subjects, leaders have not identified the content that they want pupils to learn.

“This hinders some teachers in designing learning that helps pupils to embed what they have been taught previously.

“Leaders should ensure that they finalise their curriculum thinking in these few subjects so that teachers are clear about the knowledge that pupils should gain.”

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Atherton St George’s CE Primary School and Little Dragons' Nursery is part of The Wings’ CE Trust, where Rachael Coulthard is the CEO.

Rachael said: “The Wings’ CE Trust is committed to creating a better future for all pupils and I am delighted that Ofsted have recognised the high standards here at St George’s and that our school has been rated as ‘GOOD’.

“Our fantastic team of staff value our children and their families and are providing a quality of education that this community so richly deserves.

“Plans to make further strategic improvements in response to the points for action are already in hand to secure the school’s further development and future success in the next inspection to come.”

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno.