Oxton St Saviour’s CofE Aided Primary School, located in Prenton, Merseyside, received a good rating during its inspection in March 2019. The leadership team has effectively communicated their vision for the school, which is reflected in a broad and engaging curriculum grounded in strong Christian values. Teaching practices are effective, fostering confident and enthusiastic learners who are well-prepared for their future education. The leadership in core subjects such as English, mathematics, and science is strong, while leaders in other subjects are developing their skills to enhance teaching and learning.
Governors play a crucial role by providing a balance of challenge and support to the leadership team. The school prioritizes the safety and well-being of its pupils, ensuring they feel secure in their environment. The recently introduced nurture unit offers essential support for pupils' social and emotional health. Pupils demonstrate good progress, particularly in English and mathematics, although there are instances where activities do not fully meet the needs of the most able learners, hindering their consistent progress.
Teachers encourage a love for reading by exposing pupils to a diverse range of texts, enhancing their vocabulary and writing skills across various purposes. However, in key stage one, there is a need for more challenging activities to develop pupils' reasoning skills in mathematics. Pupils exhibit strong subject knowledge in science and leave the school with well-developed scientific skills. The school fosters a sense of pride among pupils, who enjoy their lessons and maintain high attendance rates.
In the early years, children engage in enjoyable learning experiences and make good progress, although there is a need for more challenging activities for the most able. Opportunities for developing early writing skills are limited, and leaders are working to improve the accuracy of their progress monitoring systems across the curriculum.
To further enhance leadership and management effectiveness, the school aims to develop the skills of middle leaders beyond core subjects and improve the accuracy of progress checks. The quality of teaching and learning will be enhanced by ensuring that the most able pupils are consistently challenged and by providing more opportunities for reasoning in mathematics in key stage one. Additionally, the school seeks to improve early years teaching by planning high-quality writing opportunities and challenging activities for the most able children.
The leadership team has created a welcoming environment that promotes a love of learning, with a strong Christian ethos at the core of the curriculum. Staff provide various opportunities for pupils to develop as caring citizens, including participation in charitable fundraising. Leaders regularly evaluate teaching and learning, identifying strengths and areas for improvement. The leadership of core subjects is effective, with a clear understanding of necessary improvements.
The curriculum is engaging and enriches pupils' knowledge through interesting trips and activities. Regular assemblies and prayer times encourage reflection and thoughtfulness among pupils. The special educational needs coordinator effectively leads support for pupils with different needs, ensuring they make good progress. The school also utilizes additional funding for disadvantaged pupils to address learning gaps.
Overall, Oxton St Saviour’s CofE Aided Primary School is a good school that prioritizes the development of its pupils in a safe and nurturing environment. The leadership team is committed to continuous improvement, ensuring that all pupils receive the support they need to thrive academically and personally.
