St Winifred’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Stockport

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school.

This highly successful school values every member of the school community as part of one big family. Pupils flourish because every effort is made to celebrate their unique qualities and to nurture their skills, abilities and personalities. The inspirational headteacher, leads by example in setting extremely high standards and an unrelenting drive for excellence.

This has galvanised other leaders, including those middle leaders who are relatively new and still developing their skills, staff and governors to work together with one shared vision to make the school the very best it can be. As a result, all aspects of the school's wor...k have successfully improved since the previous inspection. It is no wonder that staff morale is high, because : although they are challenged to continually improve, they are fully supported and their efforts valued and appreciated.

Excellent relationships exist both with parents and the local community. Parents have a wide range of opportunities to work with the school for the benefit of their children. Their views are regularly sought and acted upon.

The school has exceptionally strong links with other schools and outside agencies. This helps the school to ensure it is doing its very best to meet the needs of all pupils. Pupils' behaviour and attitudes to learning are outstanding.

They are proud of their school and made to feel special. Their enjoyment and eagerness to learn is shown by their above average and rising attendance. They really enjoy the wealth of opportunities they are given in music, sport and the arts.

The quality of singing in the school is exceptionally high and a joy to behold. The wonderfully positive relationships pupils have with staff help them to become confident learners who are eager to test themselves and aim high. Pupils feel safe and secure because of the high quality support and guidance they receive.

Teaching is never less than good and often outstanding. It is highly creative and inspiring in challenging and stretching the abilities of all pupils. Pupils throughout school, including the most able, achieve outstandingly well.

This is reflected in the standards they reach by the end of Year 2 and Year 6, which are consistently significantly above the national average in reading, writing and mathematics. Children in the early years make excellent progress from their different starting points and this prepares them exceptionally well for Year 1.

Information about this school

The school is much larger than the average-sized primary school.

Most pupils are of White British heritage. A below average proportion of pupils are from other minority ethnic backgrounds and cultural traditions, including a few who are learning to speak English as an additional language. The proportion of disabled pupils or those with special educational needs is below average.

The proportion of disadvantaged pupils eligible for support through pupil premium funding is well below average. This additional government funding is provided for those pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those children who are looked after by the local authority. The school meets the government's current floor standard, which is the minimum expectation for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics by the end of Year 6.

There have been significant changes in staff since the previous inspection, including the headteacher who was appointed in the spring of 2013. The school has a number of awards, including the Basic Skills Quality Mark and the Inclusion Quality Mark. The school is part of the Heatons' Cluster of Schools and the local Catholic Partnership of Schools.

Also at this postcode