Denton school where teachers were hurt and pupils scared celebrates improvements

A primary school where ‘pupils did not feel safe’ and ‘teachers were physically hurt’ has celebrated a year of improvements.

Pupils’ enjoyment at Manor Green Primary Academy in Denton ‘has increased considerably’ since the previous Ofsted inspection. Inspectors visited the Mancunian Road site in April 2022 and rated it ‘inadequate’ overall. 

Following the visit last Spring, the inspection team stated that leaders allowed the ‘violent outbursts of a small but significant number of pupils’ to ‘repeatedly disrupt’ the learning and playtimes of other pupils.  

“Leaders have not ensured that pupils and staff are safe in school. They do not deal with bullying or repeated incidents of violent behaviour effectively,” the report said. “Staff and pupils are physically hurt or worried about coming to school on a regular basis.”

There have been considerable changes for the better in the past year with the most recent watchdog inspection rating them as ‘requires improvement’ – some categories were even graded as ‘good’.

According to the recent report, pupils have ‘noticed the positive change in behaviour across the school’ and are gaining ‘a much wider body of knowledge than they did in the past’. The report took place in September this year and was published in November.

READ MORE: https://www.questmedianetwork.co.uk/news/tameside-reporter/primary-school-where-pupils-do-not-feel-safe-slammed-by-ofsted/

As part of the improvements, the school overhauled the curriculum, opening pupils up to learn much more about a range of subjects than they did in the past – with reading being a top priority within the curriculum. Notably, the report outlined that ‘there is much to celebrate at Manor Green’. 

“Leaders at all levels, including the trust and staff members, have worked in unison to eradicate the deep-rooted weaknesses identified at the previous inspection,” the report highlighted. “As a result, pupils are beginning to flourish, especially in their personal development.”

Victoria Saville, Principal at Manor Green Primary Academy, said, “We are all delighted that Ofsted were able to recognise the hard work of all the children, staff and governors to bring about the improvements.”

Angela Leach, Chair of the Local Governing Body, said, “The governors are pleased that Ofsted recognised the amount of progress that has been made at Manor Green. The school leadership, staff, governors and the Trust have all worked together to make the improvements and will continue to give the pupils the best educational experience possible.”

Manor Green Primary Academy forms part of Focus-Trust, a charitable primary school trust based in the North West of England and West Yorkshire that aims to provide "great schools at the heart of communities where children thrive, achieve and succeed".