A secondary school and sixth form in Shaw is celebrating its new Ofsted grade after the education watchdog published a glowing report.

The Crompton House Church of England Academy on Rochdale Road teaches children between the ages of 11 to 18 and has historically been a 'good' school since its first inspection in 2012.

However, now that the Ofsted "bar has been raised" in the way inspectors grade schools, Crompton House bosses say they are "delighted" and "exceptionally proud" of their staff and students to have kept the 'good' rating in a recent report.

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Visiting the premises in April and May this year, Ofsted inspectors Gary Kelly, Andy Burton and Alexia Gargrave, had plenty of praise about the setting.

In their joint report, the inspectors said pupils "uphold the school's core values of caring for each other", achieve excellence "in all that they do" and feel "happy and safe".

To this end, the school ensures the children benefit from strong pastoral support, helping them to develop trusting relationships with staff and each other.

The school is also a "calm, purposeful place to learn and work" with students moving around the building in an "orderly way", the report added.

The Ofsted team also had a lot of praise for the students' behaviour and punctuality, writing that the pupils are "attentive", arrive on time, "work hard" in their lessons and behave well at all times.

Sixth-form students are often "strong role models" for younger pupils at the school, the report added.

Crompton House staff also know how to deal with occasional incidents of poor behaviour and the school's work to improve attendance has seen levels rise above the national average.

When it came to the "well-thought-out" curriculum, the Ofsted report revealed the school is "ambitious" for its students, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), meaning they are all well prepared for their next steps in further education and apprenticeships.

They learn several subjects, including the English Baccalaureate suite, and sixth formers enjoy a diverse range of subjects to support them into university.

Reading was another key highlight in the report as the school's library "is a hive of activity" while the school promotes reading as a "high priority".

Those who find reading difficult are identified and supported quickly by the school, the report added. 

Beyond the curriculum, they also benefit from a wide range of extra-curricular activities that explore their interests and talents.

This includes opportunities such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award, being part of the sixth-form management team, supporting younger pupils with reading and becoming ambassadors, which, in turn, prepares them to become "active citizens" in school and their community.

As for the teachers, staff have strong subject expertise "due to the high-quality training that they receive" and teach lessons in a "carefully considered way".

However, Ofsted said that although teachers use assessment strategies well, in a small number of subjects, pupils' gaps in learning "are not identified and acted on swiftly enough" which means progress can be "slow" for some pupils.

To hike up the grade even further, Ofsted advised Crompton House to ensure any gaps in students' knowledge are "spotted and remedied".

Reacting to the glowing report, Head of School, Susanna Hegarty said: “I am delighted that this Ofsted report reinforces the many areas of strength across the school.

"I truly believe this shows that through our combined efforts, Crompton House provides all our students with a great educational experience.

"Our students uphold our core values and feel happy and safe in school.

"This achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of students, staff, governors, parents, carers, and the wider community.

"We should all be incredibly proud of what we have achieved together.”

Karl Newell, Chief Executive Officer of Crompton House Multi Academy Trust added: “It is worth recognising that the ‘bar has been raised’ with the current Ofsted inspection framework so it is extremely pleasing to read such a positive report, with only one area highlighted for improvement.

"School leaders had already identified and have been working to improve this area.

"This clearly demonstrates the strong leadership of the school, who are committed to maintaining and raising the high standards that Crompton House is famous for.

"I can speak on behalf of the Trust Board who consider this an excellent achievement for the school and are exceptionally proud of all staff and pupils for their efforts during this inspection, the time leading up to the inspection, and the ongoing performance of the school."

Got a story? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk