Rawtenstall Newchurch Primary School Receives Ofsted Report Findings

Ofsted checked out Rawtenstall Newchurch Primary. They do not give schools overall grades now. The school got a ‘good’ for some areas. This included things like behavior and leadership. Other areas ‘require improvement’. These were early years and education quality. This report came out on February 4.

Inspectors liked how kids respected each other. Students valued the staff’s care. The school wants pupils to do well, helping them get ready for their next steps. The school is fixing weak learning areas quickly.

Many changes are new at the school, but these changes are not yet fully in place. This includes the early years section where kids have gaps in their knowledge across many different subjects.

Ofsted said 2024 results lagged on phonics. Reading, writing, and math scores were also low. Yet, pupils enjoy having responsibilities, helping as play leaders and reading buddies. Some are school council members wanting to help their community.

A new headteacher started in 2024. Since then, learning has gotten stronger through curriculum changes. Pupils now learn from an ambitious curriculum that clearly defines what kids should learn. However, the curriculum isn’t as defined in early years.

The school has not pinpointed what young children need to learn, hurting how well they learn what they need for Year 1. Staff know their subjects well. Their teaching helps pupils learn now, although the early stages are not fully cemented.

Old curriculum flaws mean some students miss things, and these knowledge gaps have not been fixed. The system to check what pupils know is being improved. This makes finding and fixing learning gaps harder.

The school works well with parents and partners with outside groups. They act on advice to help students. The school is tenacious. They have improved the reading curriculum, although many pupils did not meet standards in years 1 or 6.

Staff are consistent with the new phonics plan. Students read with confidence and ease now. It’s too soon to know the long-term effects. Expectations for behavior are high, and the new rules work well. Staff support kids who struggle with emotions.

Pupils meet the school’s behavior rules. The school cares about student attendance, assisting families facing attendance challenges. These efforts reduce student absences greatly.

The school’s health education is effective, enriching pupils’ skills with trips and visitors. Pupils learn about mental and physical health. They also learn how to stay safe.

Governors know the school’s weaknesses. They check how the school works towards its goals, though some governors are new to their roles.