Irk Valley Community School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Pupils make good progress and achieve well in reading, writing and mathematics throughout the school. Children get a very good start to their learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Pupils eligible for the pupil premium, disabled pupils and those with special educational needs, and those who speak English as an additional language achieve well because : work is planned to meet their needs and they are well supported.

Teaching is good across the school, and some is outstanding. Staff typically have high expectations and pupils learn quickly. Pupils' behaviour is good.

They enjoy coming to school and are keen to learn. They ...say they feel very safe and are well looked after in school. The leadership and management of the school are outstanding.

School leaders and governors have a very clear understanding of how well the school is performing and where it can do better. They have worked well together to secure rapid improvement in the quality of teaching and pupils' achievement since the previous inspection. Parents are very supportive and appreciative of the school.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Occasionally pupils are not given work that is hard enough to challenge them to make the best possible progress. Staff do not always ask questions that challenge pupils to deepen their understanding and extend their learning. Pupils do not have enough opportunity to use and apply their mathematical skills and knowledge to investigate and solve practical problems.

There are too few opportunities for staff to observe and share outstanding teaching practice within the school.

Information about this school

The school is much larger than the average-sized primary school. Pupils are taught in 18 classes from the Nursery to Year 6.

A large majority of pupils are from minority ethnic backgrounds, with about 60% of pupils of Pakistani heritage. Over three quarters of pupils speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium is well above average.

(The pupil premium is additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, and children looked after by the local authority.) The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs who are supported at school action is below average. The proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is average.

The executive headteacher, a National Leader of Education, joined the school in June 2013. The school has worked closely with Ss Simon and Jude CE Primary School in Bolton. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6.