Rivington Foundation Primary School, located in Horwich, Bolton, was inspected on January 28 and 29, 2020. The overall effectiveness of the school was rated as good, with specific areas such as the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management also receiving a good rating. Notably, the early years provision was rated as outstanding. The previous inspection in November 2011 had also rated the school as outstanding, and the current judgment reflects changes in the inspection framework and the school’s circumstances since that time.
The school has not undergone an inspection for nine years, which exceeds the five-year maximum interval due to legislative changes in 2011 that exempted outstanding schools from routine inspections. During the inspection, pupils expressed enjoyment in attending school and demonstrated regular attendance. Parents and carers showed strong support for the school, highlighting effective communication and relationships between home and school. Pupils reported positive behaviour among peers and felt safe, with staff effectively addressing any past instances of name-calling.
Leaders at the school maintain high expectations for pupils, focusing on values such as perseverance and kindness. The curriculum is broad, ambitious, and exciting, allowing pupils to build on prior knowledge. Teachers are well-trained across all subjects, and pupils, including those who are disadvantaged or have special educational needs, achieve well. By the end of Year 6, pupils perform better in English than in mathematics.
Governors are knowledgeable about the school and hold leaders accountable for pupil achievement. Staff report high job satisfaction and appreciate the support from senior leaders. The mathematics curriculum has been restructured, with training provided to deepen teachers' subject knowledge. This has led to a sharper focus on ensuring pupils retain knowledge from previous learning. Reading is emphasized throughout the curriculum, with phonics instruction being engaging and effective. However, there are instances where adults do not model spoken English clearly or provide excessive prompts when pupils struggle with new words.
In subjects like science and history, pupils develop their knowledge well, with lessons designed to build on prior learning. The early years curriculum is a strength, fostering inquisitiveness and curiosity among children. They engage in various activities that promote social skills and a love for learning. Additional activities, including sports clubs and charity events, contribute to pupils' personal development and prepare them for future educational stages.
The school has effective safeguarding arrangements, with a strong culture of safety embedded in its operations. Staff are well-trained to recognize signs of potential abuse and neglect, and they know how to report concerns. Families in need of support receive timely assistance, and leaders demonstrate determination to keep pupils safe.
To improve, leaders must ensure that the mathematics curriculum continues to build on prior learning so that pupils achieve as well in mathematics as they do in English. Additionally, all adults should consistently model grammatical precision and adhere to agreed approaches in teaching reading without over-prompting pupils. Overall, Rivington Foundation Primary School demonstrates a commitment to providing a quality education and fostering a supportive environment for its pupils.
