Grange Community Nursery and Primary School achieves phenomenal results in remarkable turnaround

Children, parents and staff at the Grange Community Nursery and Primary School are celebrating a remarkable turnaround as they announce the school's best ever results.

Standards at Key Stage 2 reached the highest recorded with 78 per cent of children achieving age-related expectations in reading, writing and maths combined.

The school says these results are among the best for primary schools across Cheshire West and Chester and exceed the national average of 65 per cent.

Rear, from left, pupils Echo Baguley, Amelia Hickley, Riley Cuffe and front, Kyle Walker, Oscar Hodgkinson and Layla Sanderson

In October 2017, Ofsted inspectors found the school on Brindley Avenue failing in all categories including the effectiveness of leadership and management, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, personal development, behaviour and welfare, outcomes for pupils and early years provision.

Significant weaknesses were identified in the overall quality of the curriculum and pupils' progress in reading, writing and mathematics. Teachers' expectations were low, too many pupils were excluded and pupils, parents and carers said there was bullying.

Inspectors said outcomes for the most able pupils were inadequate and disadvantaged pupils were too far behind other pupils nationally in all subjects. The assessment of children in early years provision was found to be inaccurate.

However, since joining Weaver Trust in 2017, the school has been completely transformed.

Pupils Jack Leighton and Amelia Hickey

Sara Albiston, head of school said: "We are just so proud of the attitude our children have to learning and they are so well supported by the most amazing families who share our high expectations."

A bespoke curriculum has been introduced, built around the needs of the children.

Countless opportunities are now provided including a visit to the Houses of Parliament and the Big Bank Science Fair, playing alongside the Halle Orchestra, watching Aladdin in the West End and exploring the depths of caves in North Wales.

Annette Williams, chief executive officer of Weaver Trust, said: "The results achieved in schools across the trust are testament to the hard work and determination of staff, children and parents.

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"They show what can be achieved through collaboration and joint working when there are high expectations and clear goals to inspire children to believe in themselves and understand that the world is their oyster!

"We have the very highest aspirations for all of our children and will work tirelessly to ensure each achieves their full potential and is ready for the next step in their education."