City school praised for ‘outstanding’ support

Pupils have told inspectors they value their school’s support so much that they would take staff with them if stranded on a desert island.

Students at St Peter’s CE Academy, in Fenton, were asked what single item would help them to ‘survive’ the fictional scenario.

Now an Ofsted report has revealed they each named an adult at their school.

It is one of the reasons why St Peter’s has been awarded an ‘outstanding’ grade for pupils’ personal development and welfare.

Inspectors also praised leaders for their ‘passion, determination and energy’ and said teachers were ‘ambitious for their pupils to succeed’.

But as the school’s GCSE results have been below average for the last three years, it has been rated as ‘requiring improvement’ overall.

Principal Michael Astley said he was disappointed with Ofsted’s judgement. He added: “It’s based on the results of people who left at least a year ago.

“Pupils who are in the school now are making much better progress. About 80 per cent of the points in the report are positive.”

St Peter’s, which came out of special measures two years ago, has placed improving pupils’ attitudes at the heart of its transformation.

The report says students ‘want to be in the classroom’ and their behaviour and attendance is now good. They also benefit from ‘high-quality’ careers advice and guidance.

It adds: “Pupils told inspectors that racism and bullying are rare. Pupils get on well together, respect one another and value their learning and social time together.”

Staff are also ‘proud to work at the school’ and have benefited from bespoke training to sharpen their classroom skills.

“Teachers capture and direct pupils’ interest in subjects very well,” says the report.

Ethan Brookfield joined the school months after it went into special measures and has seen the improvements first-hand.

The 15-year-old, from Fenton, said: “It had really bad behaviour across the academy before.

“One of the big things has been the targets. You now get bronze, silver or gold in lessons – gold is for doing a harder task. It might be going into more depth when you answer a difficult question.”

Fellow pupil Claire Pisira has also noticed significant changes. The 15-year-old, from Bentilee , said: “They really push students to reach the highest ability they can.

“And in lessons, teachers are more hands-on. Students now have more confidence in themselves.”

The report says pupils in the current Year 11 are ‘making much better progress’ and an increasing number of younger pupils are doing well.

But it says academic progress is not yet ‘consistently strong’.

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