The Sefton School Of The Year is celebrating being rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted!
Marshside Primary School in Southport won the Sefton School Of The Year accolade in April at the inaugural Pride Of Sefton Awards, which were organised by Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group and Stand Up For Southport.
The inspirational school, led by Headteacher Natasha Sandland, was honoured for the huge impact it has on the life of students, families and staff at the school, as well as on the local community.
Marshside has even led a successful campaign to buy and equip a big red double decker school bus which is now used as a really fun local library – mainly for the pupils but for local residents too.
Ofsted inspectors rated Marshside Primary School as Good in all every area: The quality of education; Good Behaviour and attitudes; Good Personal development; Good Leadership and management; Good Early years provision.
Ofsted said: “Marshside Primary School is a welcoming school where pupils are kind and considerate towards one another.
The Big Bus at Marshside Primary School in Southport. Headteacher Natasha Sandland and Chair of Governors Andy Brown. Photo by Andrew Brown Media
“Pupils, including children in the early years, enjoy school. They said that they feel happy and safe in this close-knit community.
“The school has high expectations of what all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), can and should learn.
“Staff place great importance on those pupils in the specially resourced provision for pupils with SEND (specially resourced provision) becoming as independent as possible so that they can succeed.
“Pupils throughout the school achieve well. Pupils easily meet the high expectations that the school sets for their behaviour. Pupils are polite and well mannered. They are attentive in lessons, and they concentrate without disruption.
“Pupils are confident that staff will swiftly resolve any concerns they may have. Pupils delight in learning about their local environment. For example, they view wildlife from the school observation deck on the edge of a coastal bird sanctuary.
“Pupils spoke enthusiastically about their work with local community groups to develop their understanding of the wildlife and landscape on their doorstep.
Marshside Primary School in Southport has won the Sefton School Of The Year Award, sponsored by Southport College, at the 2023 Pride Of Sefton Awards. Photo by Kevin Brown Photography
“They embrace opportunities to take part in local sports competitions and community events. For example, they recently raised money for the local foodbank.
“The school has ensured that there is a broad and balanced curriculum offered from the Reception Year to Year 6.
“The school places great emphasis on ensuring that staff are knowledgeable and confident to teach a broad range of subjects.
“Overall, pupils learn increasingly well across a wide range of subjects. In recent years, the school has made a number of changes to strengthen the curriculum. For example, the school has identified the important knowledge that it wants pupils to learn so that they can build a deep body of subject knowledge over time. Added to this, the school has implemented assessment strategies that are used skilfully by staff to inform future learning.
“Together, these improvements have had a positive impact on how well pupils achieve across the curriculum.”
There are 172 children aged between 4 and 11 years old at Marshside Primary School.
It was rated as Requires Improvement by Ofsted in January 2020, before Natasha Sandland was appointed Headteacher and led a transformation of the school.
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