Rivington Foundation Primary School

Inspection of a school judged good for overall effectiveness before September 2024: Rivington Foundation Primary School Horrobin Lane, Rivington, Horwich, Bolton, Lancashire BL6 7SE

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Outcome

Evidence gathered during this ungraded (section 8) inspection suggests that the school’s work may have improved significantly across all areas since the previous inspection. The school’s next inspection will be a graded inspection.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils thrive at this welcoming and inclusive school. They told inspectors that attending the school is like being part of one big family.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy exceptionally warm and nurturing relationships with adults who know them well. They said that they feel happy. They know that there is always an adult available to help them if they are ever worried.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school sets no limit to what pupils can achieve. It is highly ambitious for pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils rise to this challenge, typically achieving exceptionally well across the curriculum. This is also true for children in the early years, who are incredibly well prepared for Year 1 and beyond.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils behave impeccably. They pride themselves on showing respect and kindness towards others. For example, pupils spontaneously applaud their classmates’ successes and older pupils befriend their younger peers.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils learn to be well-rounded and responsible members of the school community. They enjoy the wide range of experiences that staff organise to bring the curriculum to life. These opportunities include trips around the local area and an exciting residential trip to London. This trip aims to broaden pupils’ awareness of the diversity of the world around them. 7 January 2025

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

Since the last inspection, school leaders have made substantial improvements to the school in several aspects of the curriculum and provision. This has ensured that pupils receive the highest quality of education.

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

The school has designed an exceptionally ambitious curriculum. It is highly developed and reflects a strong resolve that every pupil will achieve all that they possibly can. In all subjects, pupils gain the knowledge and understanding that they need to become confident and motivated learners. Pupils are extremely well prepared for the next stages of their education and for life in modern Britain.

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

Teachers are confident in the subjects that they teach. They pride themselves on finding interesting ways to explain new ideas clearly. This helps pupils to remember important learning. Teachers have a detailed understanding of each pupil. They expertly use this information to establish what pupils know and where there might be gaps in their learning. Teachers also use assessment information to great effect to adapt the delivery of the curriculum to meet pupils’ needs and to shape future learning.

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

The importance of reading radiates throughout this school. There is a rich and diverse range of books available for pupils to select from. Children in the early years love sharing picture books with adults and with their friends. As soon as they start in the reception class, children learn letters and the sounds that these represent through well-crafted activities. Staff use their specialist knowledge of early reading extremely effectively. Most pupils achieve well in their early reading. They become confident readers by the time that they finish Year 2. Staff help pupils who find reading more difficult to catch up quickly with their peers and to read confidently and fluently.

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

The school is highly ambitious for the large number of pupils with SEND. It identifies their additional needs accurately. This enables teachers to give these pupils the help that they need. The school ensures that pupils with SEND build their confidence and self-esteem. These pupils are successful and learn all that they should. They participate fully in the same curriculum and opportunities as their peers.

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

Pupils are highly motivated to learn. They listen attentively to adults and enthusiastically engage in activities with their peers. Pupils are keen to achieve their very best. The school prioritises attendance. Staff analyse and track absence thoroughly. There is an effective range of strategies that ensure pupils’ positive attitudes and habits about attending school. These are centred around creating a strong sense of belonging to the school community. Consequently, most pupils attend school regularly.

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

The school prioritises pupils’ wider development. Pupils enjoy many after-school clubs, including sports, music, gardening, and cheerleading. Pupils often contribute to their school community by suggesting new activities, such as bird watching and rock club. They have also been instrumental in setting up a school newsletter and the weekly celebration activity known as ‘disco and toast Friday.’ 7 January 2025

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Governors share staff’s ambition for pupils. Staff morale is high. They value the support that they receive for their well-being and workload. For example, they appreciate the time the school gives them to carry out their responsibilities effectively. Staff are very proud to work at the school.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Background

Until September 2024, on a graded (section 5) inspection we gave schools an overall effectiveness grade, in addition to the key and provision judgements. Overall effectiveness grades given before September 2024 will continue to be visible on school inspection reports and on Ofsted’s website. From September 2024 graded inspections will not include an overall effectiveness grade. This school was, before September 2024, judged good for its overall effectiveness.

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Background

We have now inspected the school to determine whether it has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at that previous inspection. 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’s work has improved significantly or that it may not be as strong as it was at the last inspection, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection. A graded inspection 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 first ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good for overall effectiveness in January 2020.

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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. 7 January 2025

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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). 7 January 2025

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Website www.rivingtonprimaryschool.co.uk

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School details

Dates of previous inspection 28 and 29 January 2020, under section 5 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The school does not make use of any alternative provision for pupils.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time evaluation about the quality of a school’s education provision.  This was the first routine inspection that the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors spoke with the headteacher, the deputy headteacher, who is also the special educational needs coordinator, and other school leaders.  An inspector met with members of the governing body. She also spoke with a representative of the local authority and a school improvement adviser.  Inspectors visited a sample of lessons, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work. 7 January 2025

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 To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspectors: 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.  Inspectors spoke with pupils about school life.  Inspectors held discussions with a range of school staff about their workload and well- being.  Inspectors reviewed a range of documents, including those relating to school improvement.  Inspectors considered the responses to Ofsted Parent View, including the free-text comments. They also considered the responses to Ofsted’s online survey for staff. There were no responses to Ofsted’s online survey for pupils.

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Inspection team

Sue Eastwood, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Lindy Griffiths Ofsted Inspector 7 January 2025

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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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