Birkenhead Christ Church CofE Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 1 November 2023

Pupils, including children in the early years, take pride in belonging to this nurturing and caring school. New arrivals, many of whom are new to the country, are welcomed warmly. They settle quickly and become valued members of the school community. Pupils are cared for well. They benefit from the wide range of support that they receive for their emotional well-being. Pupils particularly enjoy the opportunities to work alongside Ted, the school dog. This support helps pupils to deal with challenging periods in their lives. It also helps some pupils to manage their own behaviour. This ensures that the school is calm and pupils are ready to learn. Pupils learn to respect and celebrate the differences between themselves and others. They understand that everyone is unique and special. Pupils are considerate of others. For example, they make sure that everyone has someone to play with at social times. Leaders at all levels have high expectations for pupils' academic success. The curriculum is constantly reviewed and reshaped to make sure that pupils gain the knowledge that they need for future learning. Most pupils, especially younger pupils, achieve well across a broad range of subjects. Pupils are keen to contribute to the smooth running of the school. Many take on leadership roles, such as being an attendance ambassador. They show care for others who are less fortunate than themselves by raising money for a range of charities.

What the school should improve

• Some older pupils, who have not benefited from the revised approach to the curriculum, find it difficult to remember some of their earlier learning. This makes it difficult for them to build on what they know. The school should ensure that pupils have greater opportunities to recall what has been taught so that they leave Year 6 with the knowledge they need for the next steps in their learning.
• Some pupils' spoken language is a barrier to them sharing their ideas clearly. This means that these pupils are not able to articulate their views, which limits their ability to make links to their earlier learning. The school should ensure that pupils have the knowledge that they need to communicate their ideas and thinking clearly.
• Some pupils do not attend school as regularly as they should. Consequently, these pupils miss out on important learning. The school should continue to work with families to improve pupils' rates of attendance.

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