School improves after its previous Ofsted inspection

EAST Crompton St James C of E Primary School, Shaw, is a good school which offers well-behaved, friendly and polite pupils well-planned lessons, say inspectors from Ofsted.

The St James Street school has improved since its last inspection, when it was classed as requiring improvement. Inspectors said executive head teacher Adam Laskey had not shied away from making difficult decisions, including changes to staffing, structures and procedures.

The curriculum has been revised and is now broad and balanced, enriched by a wide range of well-attended extra-curricular activities.

Inspectors found governors at the 205-pupil school are increasingly effective in driving improvement. Pupils are kept safe, enjoy coming to school and show pride in their work, their appearance and surroundings. They said results have improved and are set to improve further because of the changes to the curriculum and leadership of the school's early years is strong, with pupils making good progress.

Most of the parents who spoke to the inspectors were positive about the school, particularly the teachers, although a few felt the school did not respond well to their concerns and they would not recommend it to others.

Teaching is good and in some cases outstanding and lessons are planned to a high standard, said Ofsted. Most pupils approach their lessons with enthusiasm and work diligently on their own and in groups.

Pupils' command of letters and the sounds they make is good and last year results in the national tests for seven-year-olds were in line with the national average in reading and above average in writing. Results in the national tests for 11-year-olds have been strong, with all pupils exceeding the average in all subjects last year.

To improve further inspectors recommended that the school further develop the quality of teaching and improve leadership and management.