St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Alkrington

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 8 October 2024

Pupils settle in quickly and feel happy at this school. They told inspectors that they enjoy spending time with their friends and with their teachers each day. Pupils know that caring staff support them academically and socially, and that they are there to help if needed. The school has high expectations for pupils' achievement, including for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Typically, most pupils achieve well across a range of subjects. They speak confidently about what they have learned. Pupils have positive attitudes towards their education. They behave well during lessons, which are calm and purposeful. This positive behaviour extends across the school, including at social times. Pupils try hard to meet staff's expectations and to follow the school's values, which include responsibility, thankfulness and respect. Pupils benefit from a variety of trips, visits and experiences that enhance their learning of the school's curriculum. For example, they visit a local fire station and various museums. Pupils benefit from residential trips where they can partake in outdoor and team-building activities. The school provides pupils with a range of clubs, including in art, culture, music, sports, gardening, baking and well-being.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, where the school has recently refined subject curriculums, some pupils have gaps in their knowledge that have not been addressed. This means that pupils find it difficult to build and connect new concepts and ideas to their prior learning. The school should support staff in using assessment strategies in these subjects to identify and remedy gaps in pupils' subject knowledge, so that they know and remember more.
• At times, there is some variability in how well staff implement the curriculum. This hinders some pupils from learning as well as they could. The school should ensure that staff deliver the curriculum consistently well and adapt activities when needed, so that pupils learn as effectively as they should.
• The strategic oversight of some aspects of the school's work lacks precision. This means that the school does not provide the governing body with all the information that it needs to hold the school fully to account for its work. The school and the governing body should make sure that they maintain thorough oversight across all aspects of the provision, to aid continual improvement.

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