Ofsted conducted a short inspection of Mersey Primary Academy on June 26, 2019, following its previous judgment of good in June 2015. The inspection confirmed that the school continues to maintain a good quality of education. Since her appointment in November 2018, Mrs. Leigh Gordon has worked diligently to enhance the educational experience for pupils, particularly focusing on reading skills. The early years provision ensures that children begin reading on their first day, maximizing learning time. The school promotes reading through various initiatives, including a science garden featuring characters from popular children's literature, which engages pupils and fosters a love for reading.
During the inspection, pupils expressed their enjoyment of reading, with one student articulating that reading makes her feel as if she is part of the story. The leadership team has carefully selected challenging texts for pupils across the multi-academy trust, enhancing staff expertise in literature and improving the quality of reading instruction. Safeguarding measures are effective, with staff well-informed about pupils' emotional needs and supported by an emotional well-being officer. This ensures that pupils have someone to turn to for support, and leaders have established robust systems to track the whereabouts of pupils who stop attending school.
Despite the positive aspects, the inspection highlighted areas for improvement, particularly in reading progress across Key Stage 2, which has been average and below the national average for Year 6 pupils. The school has recognized this and is actively working to enhance reading outcomes. While routines and consistent learning materials support pupils in responding to teachers' instructions, opportunities for reading to adults vary, especially in Key Stage 2. The school aims to provide more consistent opportunities for pupils to read aloud to adults and listen to adults read.
Pupils are encouraged to read widely, but there are instances where the books provided do not align with their phonics knowledge. The school is reviewing its library and resources to ensure a greater variety of appropriate reading materials. Additionally, while pupils are taught to write using joined handwriting from Reception, some struggle with the correct strokes for joining letters. The school is focused on improving handwriting standards.
Pupils demonstrate positive attitudes towards learning and engage well with tasks set by teachers. They support each other during group work and enjoy their social interactions during playtime, appreciating the high levels of supervision that contribute to their safety. The inspection noted that there have been very few exclusions, indicating a positive school environment.
To further enhance the educational experience, the school leadership and governance are encouraged to ensure that the books pupils read at home and school closely match their phonics knowledge, improve handwriting standards, and provide consistent opportunities for reading to adults. The inspection findings indicate that while the school is performing well, there are clear steps to take to address the identified areas for improvement, particularly in reading and writing, to ensure that all pupils achieve their full potential. The commitment of the leadership team and staff to fostering a love for reading and improving educational outcomes is evident and will be crucial in driving the school forward.
