Mersey Vale Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 24 April 2024

Pupils at Mersey Vale are proud of their school. They treat each other with kindness and respect. Pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are happy. They told inspectors that everybody is welcome in this school. The school has high expectations of what pupils can and should achieve. Pupils, including pupils with SEND and those who are disadvantaged, do their best to live up to these expectations. Typically, pupils achieve well. Many pupils enter school at the early stages of learning to speak English as an additional language. These pupils receive effective support, which helps them successfully develop their vocabulary and spoken English. There is very little disruption to lessons or day-to-day school life. Pupils are attentive in lessons, and they work hard. They are confident that staff will swiftly resolve any concerns that they may have. Pupils, including children in the early years, value the strong relationships that they form with supportive staff. The school provides some well-designed opportunities to enhance pupils' learning of the curriculum. For example, pupils talked excitedly about their choir performances, trips to the airport and orchestra visits. They also take pride in their roles of responsibility, such as being play leaders and school councillors. These experiences add considerable value to pupils' learning and deepen their aspirations.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, the school does not have a sufficiently detailed oversight of the impact of the curriculum from the early years to Year 6. This means that the school is not able to identify when aspects of the curriculum are not delivered as well as intended. This sometimes leads to gaps in pupils' knowledge. The school should ensure that it maintains oversight of curriculum delivery to ensure that pupils learn all that they should.
• The school has not ensured that pupils have a deep enough knowledge of fundamental British values. Consequently, some pupils are not as well prepared for life in modern Britain as they could be. The school should ensure that pupils develop a secure understanding of fundamental British values so that they are ready to be responsible citizens in modern society.

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