Cathcart Street Primary School in Birkenhead has been rated as needing attention in all areas by Ofsted, with inspectors finding that many pupils are persistently absent and some become disengaged or call out in lessons. The report, published in late September following an inspection in July, said that "too often" pupils at the school on Dover Close "do not understand or follow" expectations for their behaviour.
New report card system
Rather than using a single label such as "outstanding" or "requires improvement", Ofsted now grades schools using a new report card system that ranks various elements of performance on a scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Following the inspection, Cathcart Street Primary School was ranked "needs attention" in all areas. The report states: "Some pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who may face other barriers to learning do not achieve as well as they should. Pupils are not fully prepared for their next steps in education."
Curriculum and opportunities
Inspectors found that students at the school lack knowledge of other cultures and faiths, adding: "This means that pupils are not as well prepared as they should be for life in diverse modern Britain."
Despite a range of clubs being available for pupils to join, the inspection found "there are limited opportunities for pupils to take on roles of responsibility and make a tangible, positive difference to their school."
Positive findings and headteacher response
The report also highlighted positives, noting that pupils feel welcome and safe at the school and have positive and trusting relationships with staff. The school was praised for its swift and effective response to cases of bullying.
Catherine Cookson, headteacher at Cathcart Street Primary School, said the findings "were not unexpected." She said: "We are pleased that the recent inspection highlighted a number of positives, including the warm and trusting relationship that exists between pupils and staff, the strong pastoral support in place for children and families and that the curriculum we are delivering is well-organised and is beginning to strengthen children's knowledge and skills.
"The areas identified for development were not unexpected. Our leadership team had already identified the need to improve consistency in teaching, raise outcomes in reading, writing and mathematics, strengthen attendance and improve support for pupils with additional needs.
"We have already started to address these issues, which was also acknowledged by the inspection, albeit it is too early to measure the full impact of the improvements.
"We are excited about the future of the school. We are ambitious and committed to providing the very best education and opportunities for every child in our school."
