St Margaret’s celebrate ‘good’ Ofsted inspection

St Margaret’s Church of England Academy, Aigburth, has achieved a ‘good’ Ofsted (The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills) judgement in its latest inspection.

The academy was rated as good in all areas, including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and its dedicated sixth-form provision.

The Ofsted report highlighted the pace of improvement and the quality of education since St Margaret’s joined All Saints Multi Academy Trust in October 2023.

Previously, the academy was rated as ‘requires improvement’ following an inspection in November 2021. The most recent visit took place on 30 April and 1 May 2024, and the accompanying report was full of praise for the significant progress that has been made, acknowledging both the senior leadership team and the support of the trust.

Ofsted noted: “The school is ambitious for pupils to succeed. Pupils are increasingly benefiting from the improvements that the school has made to the quality of education that it provides.”

The unique curriculum on offer at St Margaret’s was also recognised. The report detailed: “The school has designed subject curriculums that allow pupils to build their knowledge in a logical way. Each subject curriculum sets out clearly for staff the essential knowledge that pupils need to learn. Across all key stages, most pupils achieve well.”

Ofsted referenced how the school and the trust have taken action to improve the identification of the needs of pupils with SEND. It further detailed: “Pupils with SEND progress well through the same ambitious subject curriculums as their peers.”

It also stated: “The trust has supported the school by appointing new, experienced staff in various positions. This has strengthened the school’s capacity for improvement.”

Ofsted applauded St Margaret’s wider offer beyond the classroom, including the careers education and guidance. The report highlighted: “The school shows a strong commitment to ensure that pupils, and students in the sixth form, build the knowledge that they need to be well prepared for life beyond school.

“[…] All pupils receive age-appropriate careers education, including independent advice about future careers and further education opportunities.”

Mrs Jeniffer Sing, executive headteacher, commented: “We are incredibly delighted that St Margaret’s has been judged as a ‘good’ school in the latest Ofsted inspection. St Margaret’s is a long-standing pillar in the community and this achievement reflects the unwavering commitment and hard work of the entire school community, from staff and students to parents and governors.”

St Margaret’s is a renowned school in south Liverpool with a rich history and a proud and distinguished alumni. Opened in 1879, it was founded by Alderman William Preston, former Mayor of Liverpool, and Reverend John Sheepshanks, vicar of St Margaret’s in Anfield. The recent Ofsted judgement reaffirms its role as a key educational institution in the Aigburth area.

CEO of All Saints Multi Academy Trust, Miss Heather Duggan, said: “The academy’s journey of improvement is inspiring and demonstrates our commitment to providing the highest quality education for our students, guided by our values of aspiration, inclusion, and service. We are immensely proud of this achievement and look forward to continued success.”

The full report can be found here.