Head confident of success

A FAILING Chadderton primary school says it has a comprehensive plan to turn things around.

Ofsted inspectors who visited St Matthew’s in January rated it in the bottom “inadequate” grade and place it in the “special measures” category.

They found a significant a decline in standards across the Chadderton Hall Road school since it’s previous inspection, when it was classed as “requiring improvement”.

Criticisms included ineffective leadership, inadequate teaching, low expectations of pupils, the curriculum and pupil behaviour.

Most pupils make inadequate progress. Ofsted said the school was failing to give them an acceptable standard of education.

The school was created in 2012 by the merger of St Mathew’s Infant and Chadderton Hall Junior schools. Patricia Shepherd became head of both schools before the amalgamation, but left last summer.

“Only very recently has a new, permanent head teacher started. In the meantime, the school has lacked direction and the progress of many pupils has slowed considerably,” said inspectors.

But they praised new head teacher Martin Moore, who started just before the inspection. He was previously head at the outstanding Crompton Primary School and Ofsted added:

“The newly-appointed head teacher brings much experience and already shows a clear understanding of the school’s areas for development,” noted Ofsted. “Staff and governors speak of being excited about the future.”

Mr Moore said: “Obviously we are disappointed with the findings but I can see even in the short time that I’ve been here that everyone at the school is committed to tackling the issues raised.

“I’d like to reassure parents the education of their children is our number one priority.”

St Matthew's does not have a nurery. St Matthew's Playgroup, which is based at the primary school but is independent of it, was rated good at its last inspection