Wistaston Church Lane Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Since the previous inspection, senior leaders have worked hard and been successful in improving pupils' progress.

Together with senior leaders, and with the full support of governors and the Learning for Life Partnership, the headteacher ensures that all aspects of provision, including teaching and learning, are good. Phonics teaching is good. The proportion of pupils in Year 1 attaining the expected standard in the national phonics screening check has been well above average for the last three years.

Disadvantaged pupils make good progress. At the end of Year 6 in 2018, their attainment in reading, writing and mathematics was higher than... other pupils nationally. All pupils attained highly in reading at the end of Years 6 and 2 and their attainment in mathematics was strong.

Currently, some pupils do not achieve to their best, particularly in writing and mathematics, because they are not sufficiently challenged in class. In some year groups, too few opportunities are provided for pupils to practise their writing skills across the curriculum. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) benefit from good teaching.

They enjoy learning and make strong progress in a wide range of subjects. Across the school, including in the early years, teaching is good. Relationships between teachers and pupils are strong and productive.

Pupils benefit from an engaging curriculum with many educational visits. However, leaders do not to monitor pupils' progress in all subjects. Pupils' attendance is well above average.

Pupils attend regularly because they find learning interesting. Aspects of their behaviour are impeccable. Pupils say that they feel safe at school and that bullying is rare.

Children make good progress in the Reception classes and are well equipped for their learning in Year 1 and beyond. The school's work to foster pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, and their appreciation of British values, is good. Most parents are very positive about the school, which they say is much improved.

Parents are of the view that their children are happy, safe and making good progress.

Information about this school

Wistaston Church Lane Academy is a larger than average-sized primary school. Almost all pupils are of White British heritage.

Few pupils speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils who are disadvantaged is well below average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is below average and the proportion who have an education, health and care plan is above average.

All children in the Reception classes attend full-time. Pupils attend a breakfast club which is managed by trustees and formed part of this inspection. In the last two years, extensive internal and external refurbishments have taken place, to include a new reception area, meeting rooms and library.

Early years facilities have been improved. The principal, who led the school in an acting capacity at the time of the previous inspection, is now the school's substantive headteacher. In September 2017, Wistaston joined The Learning for Life Partnership, which is a multi-academy trust based in East Cheshire.