A Frodsham school’s three-year journey of improvement has been recognised by Ofsted inspectors who have rated it good with outstanding features.
Frodsham Primary Academy, which joined Warrington Primary Academy Trust (WPAT) in May 2022, hosted inspectors in February who were impressed with what they found.
The school was rated good for the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes of the children, and its early years provision, while leadership and management and personal development were rated outstanding.
“Leaders, including representatives of the trust, have been highly successful in turning the fortunes of this school around,” the inspectors noted.
“As a result, pupils enjoy a good quality of education. For example, in 2024, the proportion of pupils achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics in Year 6 was above the national average.”
They added: “The school has high expectations for pupils’ achievement. In turn, pupils achieve well. They persevere when faced with challenges. They enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes with learning new things. A range of trips and enriching activities helps make learning memorable. Pupils leave Year 6 well prepared for the next stage of their education.
“The carefully designed curriculum clearly sets out what pupils should learn and when they should learn it. The school has taken into account its local context and the needs and interests of pupils. Pupils have very positive attitudes to learning. They are highly attentive in class and show resilience when tasks become more challenging.”
When the school became part of the WPAT family, staff at Frodsham Primary Academy received additional training and support from trust colleagues in a range of areas including the quality of teaching. Teachers were also supported to adopt new, efficient ways of evaluating the children’s learning.
Head of School Gemma Callaghan said: “I am incredibly proud of the journey we have undertaken. Over the past three years, our staff have worked tirelessly to enhance outcomes for the children in our school. Our students and community deserve a high-quality education that equips children for lifelong learning. We take great pride in the educational opportunities we provide and are pleased that these efforts have been recognised.
“We are pleased that our commitment to personal development has been recognised as outstanding. We go beyond an academic focus, ensuring that our children leave not only with a strong knowledge base but also with valuable experiences that will support their future growth.”
Louise Smith, CEO of WPAT, added: “Frodsham Primary Academy has been on an amazing journey since the school became part of Warington Primary Academy Trust so this report is very well deserved. It’s always great that the efforts of our staff and colleagues, as well as the support of parents and the wider school community, is acknowledged in this way.”
The full Ofsted report is available at https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/21/149077
Frodsham Primary Academy is one of eight primary schools that make up Warrington Primary Academy Trust (WPAT), a community of more than 2,300 children aged 2 to 11. WPAT was formed in 2016 and quickly developed a national reputation for excellent standards. WPAT provides staff at all its schools with support, expertise and professional development so that they can provide the very best education standards for their children.
Picture caption: Celebrating a successful Ofsted report for Frodsham Primary Academy are (from left) Louise Smith (CEO, Warrington Primary Academy Trust), pupils Izzy, Rowan, Harry, Aria and Zach, and Gemma Callaghan (Head of School).