WITH primary school selection just a few months away, many parents will be wondering where to send their children.
Education watchdog Ofsted carries out weekly inspections across the country to maintain standards.
Inspectors grade each school on quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.
Overall grades range from grade one, meaning the school is outstanding, to grade four, meaning it is inadequate.
Here is a list of the primary schools across Ellesmere Port and Neston with their Ofsted inspection reports.
We’ve focused on the most recent inspections, so the list does not include schools with reports dated before 2020.
'Outstanding'
Wolverham Primary and Nursery School
Wolverham Primary and Nursery School in Ellesmere Port "continues to be an outstanding school" in a school inspection published on July 19 2022.
The report says: "Pupils thrive and succeed at Wolverham Primary School. They enjoy learning new things because teachers provide stimulating lessons that capture their interests and spark their imaginations.
"Leaders have very high expectations of all pupils. Pupils live up to these expectations through their exemplary behaviour and scholarly work ethic."
Childer Thornton Primary School
Childer Thornton Primary School also "continues to be an outstanding school" in a school inspection published on May 4 2022.
The report says: "All pupils, regardless of their race, gender or culture, are warmly welcomed at Childer Thornton Primary School.
"Teachers expect pupils to work hard and try their best in lessons. Overall, most pupils achieve well across a variety of subjects."
'Good'
Cambridge Road Community Primary and Nursery School
In their latest report, on September 21 2022, Cambridge Road Community Primary and Nursery School received information that they "continue to be a good school".
The report continues: "Pupils feel that they are safe and well cared for by staff. They are happy to be part of the ‘Cambridge Road family’.
"Pupils are friendly towards each other and everyone is made to feel welcome."
Also in the report, it suggests that the school's next inspection will be a 'section 5' inspection, meaning a full inspection and that there is enough evidence to say the school could be judged "outstanding".
St Bernard's Roman Catholic Primary School
In their first-ever inspection, published on June 24 2020 St Bernard's Roman Catholic Primary School received a 'good' report.
The report said: "There is a real sense of community in the school. Pupils have good relationships with their friends and the adults who teach them.
"Pupils learn about the importance of equality and justice. They learn about cultures and beliefs that are different from their own."
Mathematics was seen as a strength at the school, and safeguarding is given the highest priority at this school.
Ellesmere Port Christ Church CofE Primary School
Next is Ellesmere Port Christ Church CofE Primary School who were also told they "continue to be a good school" in their latest report on January 26 2023.
The report says: “Leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum, which provides pupils with the knowledge and skills that they need to achieve well, both academically and socially.
“This is a school where pupils, and children in the early years, feel safe and cared for well.”
In most subjects, leaders were said to have designed an appropriate system to check how well pupils are learning the curriculum.
Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School
Another 'good' Ofsted report is for Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School who received their latest report on Janaury 27 2023.
This was a school inspection and they were awarded ‘good’ in every category inspected.
The report said: “This is a friendly, welcoming school. Staff and pupils establish strong relationships built on mutual respect.
“Leaders have high expectations of pupils’ achievement, including those pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).”
The report continued to say some pupils do not attend school regularly enough and leaders should ensure that these pupils are supported to improve their rates of attendance.
Rivacre Valley Primary School
Next on the list is Rivacre Valley Primary School who were awarded a 'good' award at their school inspection, published on November 29 2022.
The school received ‘good’ in all categories, and ‘outstanding’ in Early years provision.
The report said: “Pupils walk into classrooms with smiles on their faces. They feel safe and well cared for by staff.
“Leaders have developed a curriculum which provides pupils with the knowledge and skills that they need to achieve well, both academically and socially.”
The report followed: “In a small number of subjects, leaders have not ensured that teachers are clear about the most important knowledge that pupils should learn.”
Parklands Community Primary and Nursery School
Another 'good' school is Parklands Community Primary and Nursery School.
In their latest report, published on November 21 2022, they received ‘good’ in all categories and ‘outstanding’ in Early years provision.
The report said: “Pupils at Parklands Community Primary and Nursery School thrive at this happy and welcoming school.
“Leaders expect pupils to try their best and to work hard. Pupils easily live up to these expectations.”
Rossmore School
Rossmore School also continues to be a 'good' primary school, confirmed in their latest report, published on November 28 2022.
The report said: “Parents and carers particularly like the community feel of the school. They describe it as caring and appreciate the positive relationships with staff.
“Teachers know the curriculum well. This enables them to deliver it as leaders intend.”
However, the report said “some pupils do not achieve as well in these subjects as they could.”
Capenhurst CofE Primary School
Finally for Ellesmere Port is Capenhurst CofE Primary School who received a 'good report on April 29 2022. They were awarded 'good' in all categories.
The report said: Pupils know that leaders want them to do their best. They are polite, articulate and enthusiastic when talking about their learning.
“Pupils appreciate being able to talk to staff if anything bothers them. They know that if they share concerns, staff will do their best to help them.”
The report continued: “Occasionally, teachers do not have precise clarification about the important curriculum content to prioritise and revisit. This means that, from time to time, teachers do not focus sufficiently well on the most useful knowledge and vocabulary that pupils should know and remember.”
Neston Primary School
For Neston, Neston Primary School continues to be a ‘good’ school in a report, published on November 12 2021.
The report says: “Pupils play together happily and participate in lessons with confidence and enthusiasm.
“They said that all the adults work together to help them to be happy, stay healthy and achieve the best they can.”
However, it said occasionally, for example in mathematics, some pupils are not able to recall what they have learned as well as they could.
Bishop Wilson Church of England Primary School
Next is Bishop Wilson Church of England Primary School which "continues to be a good school", published on January 17 2022.
The report said: “Pupils behave well around school and in class. They are polite and considerate.
“Pupils work hard because they know that teachers expect them to do so.”
The pupils also spoke about the ways in which staff keep them safe.
Willaston CofE Primary School
Finally is Willaston CofE Primary School who had their most recent inspection published on January 27 2023, which confirmed they "continue to be a good school" and could receive an "outstanding" report in their next section 5 full inspection.
The report said: “Pupils, including children in the early years, are eager to attend school. They come through the school gates with smiles on their faces at the start of the school day.
“Leaders, staff and governors are highly committed to the school. They are extremely ambitious for pupils’ learning and their behaviour.”
'Requires improvement'
Woodlands Primary School
Since 2020, there is only one primary school that 'requires improvement’ following their Ofsted inspection which was Woodland Primary School in Ellesmere Port.
Their latest report which was a ‘monitoring visit’ published on June 17 2021 said “Leaders and those responsible for governance are taking effective action in order for the school to become a good school.”
Their full inspection, published on May 21 2019 said that “many pupils carry a legacy of underachievement in subjects other than English and mathematics” and “although improving, progress being made by pupils, especially the most able pupils, including the most able disadvantaged pupils, is not good.”
To read the inspections, visit https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here