Royton school Ofsted success

Hilary Henderson -Head Teacher with St. Paul's C E Primary School Royton Oldham- Reading is heart of school curriculum, she says.

The headteacher of a Royton school described as good in the latest Ofsted report said reading is the heart of the curriculum.

Inspectors described St Paul’s CE primary school as where “All the children are happy, learning with their friends in a stimulating environment and through a well-planned curriculum.” 

The two-day inspection last month was the first Inspection in Oldham under the new framework which commenced in September and first of all Manchester Diocesan schools to be inspected. 

It was a rigorous process which also involved an additional HMI who was quality assuring the whole  process.
 
The school has Nursery and Additional Resourced Provision and 229 pupils. A nursery offers 30 hours and an Additional Resourced Provision  for 12 pupils with speech, communication and Autism Difficulties.
 
Head teacher Hilary Henderson joined the school in January 2017. The school was inspected in March 2017 where it was found to be Requiring Improvement  but the Insepectors recognised  there was  great capacity to  put improvements into place  to move the school forwards.
 
They say they are delighted with the outcome from our latest inspection which is  so very well deserved due to the hard work and commitment of everyone concerned.
 
Hilary said: “Reading  is at the heart  of the curriculum. I am so  very proud of all of our  community, Governors, staff, parents and children who have worked  consistently hard to support the school with its endeavours to become a Good school. 

“It is wonderful we have been recognised as being caring and kind and that the ‘School community works together to ensure that pupils succeed in their education.’”
 
The report begins by saying “Pupils are happy and secure and enjoy coming to school.” It recognises “Teachers and pupils have great respect for each other.”  The pupils “look forward to their lessons and appreciate the many opportunities to learn after school in the areas of sport, music and art.”
 
The pupils say “they do not worry about bullying because staf sort issues out straight away.”
 
The report states  “the  school provides pupils with a good quality of education and that pupils’ personal development is a strength of the school.”
 
The report continues to recognise that “Leaders’ plans for the curriculum are clear in what the pupils need to know and remember.”  

The Inspectors found the school “puts reading at the centre of the curriculum and ensure that all pupils succeed in learning their phonics.” Which then enables pupils “to become fluent readers”
 
The report also identifies “Mathematics is a strength of the school” and that “Leaders provide pupils  with activities to support them in developing as confident, resilient and independent individuals.”
 
The leadership of the school, including Governors, “support and motivate the staff  and provide effective support with mental health.” “leaders and staff give safeguarding a high priority and pupils benefit from lessons on how to keep themselves healthy and safe.
 
“Parents  and carers are welcome to visit the school”
 
 Mrs Henderson  added: “I’m  proud of the whole community who work together to ensure pupils succeed in their education.”

Janet Wright, Chair of Governors, said: "The Governors are very proud of how hard Mrs Henderson and the staff have improved all areas of the school since the last inspection."

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