Turton and Edgworth CofE/Methodist Controlled Primary School

Inspection of a good school: Turton and Edgworth CofE/Methodist Controlled Primary School Bolton Road, Edgworth, Bolton, Lancashire BL7 0AH

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Outcome

There has been no change to this school’s overall judgement of good as a result of this ungraded (section 8) inspection. However, the evidence gathered suggests that the inspection grade might be outstanding if a graded (section 5) inspection were carried out now. The school’s next inspection will be a graded inspection.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils flourish socially, academically and emotionally at this school. Their delight in attending is reflected in the way that they arrive at school each morning with happy, smiley faces. The school knows pupils well and values them as individuals.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils develop very positive attitudes to learning. In some subjects, they achieve very well. This is because leaders have high expectations and the subject curriculums are well thought out and taught effectively. Pupils can remember key information. This includes the meaning of important new words, such as rectilinear shapes, tectonic plates and perpendicular.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), feel safe and develop positive friendships at school. The school expects pupils to behave well, and they do. They are polite and make visitors to school feel welcome. Quite simply, pupils are a credit to the school and their families. They know that adults will help them if they have any worries or concerns. The school ensures that vulnerable families receive the help and support that they need.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils benefit from a rich range of experiences to enhance their personal development. They enjoy attending clubs, such as chess, choir and ‘karate maths’. Pupils contribute to decision-making through their roles as librarians and elected members of the school parliament. They are particularly proud of their roles as subject ambassadors, helping the school to design and deliver areas of the curriculum through assemblies and themed days. 5 and 6 March 2024

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school has a secure understanding of how to design and implement a high-quality curriculum. It has ensured that subject curriculums are ambitious and that they are designed to meet the needs of pupils, including those with SEND. The school has carefully considered the subject-specific knowledge that staff will emphasise and teach from the early years to Year 6.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Teachers have excellent subject knowledge. They design learning activities that help pupils to know and remember more. Staff use a varied range of assessment techniques, such as questioning, to spot any gaps in pupils’ learning and to assess their understanding. Staff judiciously revisit previous learning so that pupils have a secure understanding of curriculum content.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Reading is given a high profile. Books are available in classrooms and in school libraries to foster pupils’ love of reading. As soon as children start in the early years, staff seize every opportunity to develop their communication and language skills. There is a buzz of conversation while children learn.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Staff deliver the phonics programme consistently well. Pupils read from books that include the sounds that they already know. The school makes effective use of assessment information to identify pupils who are struggling to read. These pupils benefit from extra support to help them to catch up with the phonics programme.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school identifies pupils’ additional needs quickly. It ensures that suitable adaptations are made during lessons to ensure that most pupils with SEND access the same ambitious curriculum as their peers. Pupils with SEND take a full part in all aspects of school life.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Classrooms are calm and orderly. Pupils listen well during lessons and enjoy opportunities to work with their friends, sharing their thoughts and ideas. Pupils understand the meaning of tolerance and respect for others. They appreciate that people have different families and beliefs. Pupils understand the need to look after the planet for future generations. For instance, eco-warriors gently remind others of the importance of recycling, switching off lights and using less plastic.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Pupils are proud of the links that they have developed within the local community. ‘Edgworth authors’ proudly display examples of their work at a local community centre. Members of the school choir and musicians also perform at the centre to entertain local residents. Visitors come into school to talk to pupils about the different roles that they have in society. This helps to raise pupils’ aspirations for their future careers. Through the curriculum, pupils learn how to keep themselves safe when online. They also learn about the dangers of drug and alcohol misuse.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Governors know the school exceptionally well. Although supportive of the school, they are not afraid to ask challenging questions relating to all aspects of the school’s work, including the quality of education. 5 and 6 March 2024

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The school and governing body consider the well-being of staff in the decisions that they make. Staff access a wealth of training which helps them to do their jobs very well. Staff feel valued and proud to work at the school.

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Most parents and carers are delighted with the quality of education that their children receive. They would happily recommend the school to others.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Background

When we have judged a school to be good, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good. This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection, which is carried out under section 5 of the Act. Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

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Background

This is the second ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good in January 2015.

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How can I feed back my views?

find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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Further information

In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ is used to mean pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND); pupils who meet the definition of children in need of help and protection ; pupils receiving statutory local authority support from a social worker; and pupils who otherwise meet the criteria used for deciding the school’s pupil premium funding (this includes pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years, looked after children (children in local authority care) and/or children who left care through adoption or another formal route). 5 and 6 March 2024

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Website www.turtonandedgworthprimary.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous inspection 22 January 2019, under section 8 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 Since the previous inspection, a new chair of governors has been appointed.  The school does not use any alternative provision for pupils.  This Church of England and Methodist school is part of the Diocese of Blackburn and the Methodist District of Bolton and Rochdale. The last section 48 inspection, for schools of a religious character, was carried out in March 2019. The school is awaiting confirmation about the timing of its next section 48 inspection.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time judgement about the quality of a school’s education provision.  This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the school.  The inspector held meetings with governors, the headteacher and other members of staff. 5 and 6 March 2024

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 The inspector met with representatives of the local authority and the Methodist Academies and School Trust. She also held a telephone call with a representative of the diocese.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspector reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils; and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.  The inspector observed behaviour as pupils moved around the school, in class and the outdoor play area.  The inspector considered the views expressed by parents in their responses to Ofsted Parent View. This included free-texts comments. She also took account of the responses to Ofsted’s online questionnaires for staff and pupils.  The inspector carried out deep dives in these subjects: early reading, mathematics and geography. For each deep dive, she discussed the curriculum with subject leaders,

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visited a sample of lessons and spoke with teachers and some pupils about their learning. She looked at a sample of pupils’ work. The inspector listened to pupils from Years 1 to 3 read with a familiar adult.  The inspector talked with pupils about their learning in other areas of the curriculum and looked at samples of their work in these subjects.

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Inspection team

Sheila Iwaskow, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector 5 and 6 March 2024

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regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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