Simms Cross 'is a good school', say inspectors (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Simms Cross School celebrates making exceptional progress

1:20pm Thursday 21st March 2013 in News By Barbara Jordan

A WIDNES school is celebrating after making exceptional progress.

Simms Cross Primary School, in Kingsway, was placed in special measures in March, 2007, and judged as satisfactory, in May, 2011.

Last month, an Ofsted inspection declared staff and pupils had come on in leaps and bounds.

Teaching, behaviour, safety, leadership, and management were all hailed as good.

Inspectors reported: “Lessons are exciting and stimulating and many opportunties are provided to enrich children’s learning through visits to places of interest.

“There is a very positive atmosphere in the school and relationships between staff and pupils are strong.

“The school is effectively led by a strong head teacher, whose ambition and determination has resulted in good teaching that is accelerating pupils’ progress.

“This is a good school.”

Head teacher Lesley Feakes said: “It is brilliant recognition. The children have been absolutely fantastic. Staff have worked really hard to ensure that everything is improved.

“We are trying to bring the curriculum to life for the children, make them want to know more.”

She said pupils had explored the World Museum in Liverpool after studying ancient Egypt.

They are visiting Chester Zoo as part of a rainforest project.

Year six pupils’ results were the best for many years, but are still below the national average.

Mrs Feakes added: “We have to improve our attainment, but now that everything else is good, that will improve.

“We are on the way up and doing well.

“To progress from satisfactory to good in less than two years is fantastic.

“We have loads to celebrate.”