St Teresa's Catholic Infant And Nursery School in Birkdale in Southport

A Southport school rated Good by Ofsted is delighted to welcome pupils back this week after winning a campaign against closure. 

St Teresa’s RC Infants & Nursery School, on Everton Road in Birkdale, had faced questions over its future from Sefton Council. 

But after listening to the school’s plans for the future, councillors on Sefton’s Cabinet committee gave their backing for St Teresa’s to continue. 

St Teresa’s was given a Good rating in its last Ofsted inspection, with Lead Inspector Sheila Iwaskow saying that teaching staff had “improved the school beyond recognition”.

A statement from the school said: “The Governing Body of St Teresa’s RC Infants & Nursery School is delighted at the decision by Sefton Council’s Cabinet members to approve the recommendations contained in the report on the recent Sefton Consultation. 

“We look forward to working further with the councillors and officers, and with the Archdiocese too, in order to implement the plans we have proposed and forge a sustainable future for the school and the community it serves.

“Once again, all involved at St.Teresa’s, and particularly the Governing Body, wish to express their thanks for the support so many of you have given us when making our various representations on your behalf. We will now endeavour to return the confidence invested in us by our community and the council. 

“All our hard work and appeals will only be of benefit if we attract new children and families to S.Teresa’s in sufficient numbers in the months and years ahead.

“It is only four years since the school was full to capacity.

“We still have places at the school for September and would be delighted to welcome children who want to join us in any year group under the leadership of our new, experienced and excellent Headteacher, Louise Morton, seconded from our neighbouring school, Holy Family. “This is a momentous time in our school’s long and rich history. We have been granted an opportunity that we must take with gratitude, with optimism, and with pragmatism.

“With all the uncertainty of the past year now lifted, we look forward to a positive and secure future in which our families can be sure their children will be cared for, nurtured and educated in an environment that has served so many, so well, and for so long.

“If ever the reputation of our small village school was demonstrated at its best, it has been in it being open every single day of the week since schools re-opened due to the Covid pandemic – and indeed every day throughout ‘lockdown’ for the children of our key workers.

“Our parents and carers have been glowing in their praise for the commitment and resourcefulness of all the school staff throughout this time, and the school is indeed fortunate and indebted to have such talented and dedicated practitioners to whom our families can entrust their children as we move forward together; our thanks and good wishes go out to them all.”  

For more details about St Teresa’s, please visit: www.st-teresas-school.co.uk

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