School given lowest possible Ofsted rating 'bouncing back'

Inspectors from the education watchdog have visited Great Marsden St John’s CE Primary School in Nelson five times since the rating was given with the latest visit taking place last month.

In a report published this week the school’s rating has been promoted to ‘requires improvement’, one above the previous ‘inadequate’ grading.

The Trent Road school was also told that it’s leadership, management, early years provision and the behaviour and safety of the pupils were considered to be ‘good’.

The quality of teaching and the pupils’ achievement were however still thought to be requiring improvement.

Lead inspector Mark Williams said: “Teaching quality, while improving, is inconsistent.

“As a result, not all pupils make routinely good progress in their learning to reach the standards of which they are capable.

“Not all teachers follow the school’s own policy for marking and feedback.

“Even though comments to help pupils improve are often helpful, teachers do not routinely check to ensure pupils’ responses are correct.

“Pupils’ progress in writing is variable. Pupils’ use of spelling, grammar and punctuation is also variable.

“This is because errors are not always identified, meaning pupils cannot learn from their mistakes.

“As leaders rightly identify, the most able pupils are not always challenged to achieve as well as they can.”

However Mr Williams added that the school did have positive areas including the “calm determination of the headteacher” and the behaviour of the pupils.

He said: “Pupils are making better rates of progress than they did at the time of the previous inspection.

“Gaps between disadvantaged pupils and their peers are narrowing.

Headteacher Michaela Underwood said: “This is great news for the school and we’re very pleased that the inspectors have recognised the improvements we have made.

“We will celebrate this milestone and continue to work hard to provide the excellent education our children deserve.”