Ashton St Peter's VA C of E School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 April 2026

This is a friendly, welcoming school where pupils are proud to belong. Relationships are warm, positive and nurturing throughout the school. Pupils learn about values such as honesty, appreciation and forgiveness are and are motivated to demonstrate these in their daily interactions. There is a strong sense of community and a family-like atmosphere here. As a result, pupils feel safe and, increasingly, they attend well. Pupils are polite and friendly. Typically, they demonstrate the school's rules of 'ready, respectful and safe' inside and outside. Classrooms are calm, purposeful spaces, where interruptions to learning are infrequent. Older pupils are excellent role models to younger pupils. They appreciate being able to make a difference to school life through through leadership roles such as prefects, school councillors, play and worship leaders. According to pupils, teachers make learning fun at Ashton St Peter's. The school's ambitious curriculum is taught well. Pupils enjoy lively discussions and collaborative activities that help them secure key knowledge. Overall, pupils progress well through the curriculum and their achievement in national tests is generally close to the national average. Staff know pupils and their individual needs extremely well. Pupils who face barriers to learning receive provision that meets their needs and helps to remove those barriers. Pupils are encouraged to develop independence and resilience from an early age. There is high-quality provision to support pupils' emotional wellbeing, including from the school dog. All pupils are included in the school's extensive wider offer. This involves activities that enrich pupils’ learning and give them experiences they might not otherwise have. Trips to France, the seaside, St Paul's Cathedral and the nearby zoo are just a few examples. Pupils have opportunities to represent their school in competitions, sometimes at a national level, for pursuits ranging from football to horticulture.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that the early years environment is designed to maximise children’s learning opportunities in all 7 areas of learning.
• Leaders should ensure that the governing body continues to strengthen its work to provide robust support and challenge that is sharply focused on the school’s improvement priorities.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)