St Anne’s C of E Academy celebrates positive Ofsted report

St Anne’s Church of England Academy in Middleton has been rated as 'good' in all areas following its latest Ofsted inspection, marking a significant milestone in the school’s ongoing improvement.

Inspectors visited the school in July, and their report, now published, praises the academy’s quality of education, behaviour, personal development, and leadership.

Key highlights from the Ofsted report include a positive and supportive learning environment, where pupils feel both safe and happy. Inspectors noted the strong relationships between staff and students, with the majority of pupils displaying good behaviour both in the classroom and around the school.

Teachers at St Anne's were also commended for knowing their students well and holding high expectations for their success.

Ofsted recognised the school’s efforts in promoting a reading culture across all year groups, ensuring that those who struggle with reading receive the necessary support to catch up quickly.

The report also highlighted that pupils benefit from a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, contributing to their overall development.

Students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) were found to be well supported, and the report confirmed that current pupils are thriving from the strengthened quality of education, with many achieving good results.

Headteacher Chris Heyes expressed his pride in the school’s progress, thanking staff, students, and parents for their collective efforts in driving improvement.

He said: "I am hugely proud of all our young people and our staff. I also want to thank our parents and our community for the confidence they have shown in us in our determination to make St Anne’s one of the very best schools for young people in our area.

"We continue to be on a journey of change and improvement to achieve the best for everyone, and it is wonderful to see that being recognised by Ofsted.

"We can give our young people a great future when we work together and have faith, focused on the best for everyone and the best from everyone.”

Julie Hollis, CEO of The Cranmer Education Trust, under which St Anne’s operates, also welcomed the report’s findings.

She said: "It’s all about the people.Our purpose as a trust is to ensure that all our young people have an education that enables them to achieve well and become the best people that they can be.

"It's to invest in and develop all our staff so that they can do their best for our students and be proud of what they do and the difference they make.

"We are delighted that the quality of what St Anne’s is doing for the young people of Rochdale has been recognised by Ofsted, and by our students' GCSE outcomes this summer, which will enable them to progress confidently to the next stage of education and training."

St Anne’s continues to work towards further improvements as it seeks to build on the successes recognised in the inspection.