Burscough Priory Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 22 November 2022

Burscough Priory Academy is a calm and welcoming learning community where staff and pupils are kind and respectful towards each other. Pupils are happy and safe. They value the many improvements that leaders have made to the quality of education that they receive. Leaders and teachers have high expectations of pupils' behaviour. Most pupils meet these expectations. Pupils benefit from a positive climate for learning. They told inspectors that this is a school where they can learn well. Pupils said that they enjoy studying a broad range of subjects. They explained that teachers expect them to achieve highly. Across the school, pupils achieve well. They experience a suitably ambitious curriculum that prepares them well for the next stages in their education. Pupils enjoy taking part in a range of activities, which enhances their wider development. These activities include sports, debating and strategy gaming. Pupils develop an awareness of current issues, which helps to broaden and deepen their understanding of the world. Pastoral support is a strength of the school. Pupils said that there is always someone on hand to turn to if they have any worries or concerns. For example, staff deal with any incidents of bullying in a timely and effective way.

What the school should improve

• In a small number of subjects, the curriculum for pupils in Years 7 and 8 lacks depth. As a result, pupils' learning is limited by the lack of opportunity to link new knowledge to what they have already learned. Leaders should ensure that all pupils, in all year groups, benefit from a curriculum that consistently matches the scope of the national curriculum.
• Sometimes leaders do not analyse or use the information that they gather to spot patterns in pupils' behaviour. As a result, on occasion, a small number of pupils who struggle to regulate their behaviour do not, at times, receive the most appropriate help in a timely way. Leaders should use the information that they have about pupils' behaviour to address their specific needs effectively.

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