An Oldham school has received a ‘good’ rating in all areas following an Ofsted inspection.

Oasis Academy Clarksfield was inspected in April, with a full report published earlier this month.

The school, one of 10 in the borough to operate its own food bank, had not been inspected since it reopened as Oasis Academy Clarksfield in 2019.

In its previous iteration, named Clarksfield Primary School, the school was put into special measures after it received the worst possible rating of ‘inadequate’ in all areas assessed in 2017, with the school said to offer a ‘dismal introduction to school life’.

Under changes to the law introduced by the Education and Adoption Act 2016, schools judged ‘inadequate’ are forced to convert to academies by the Government.

In the latest inspection, Ofsted inspectors said Oasis Academy Clarksfield is a ‘happy school’, with ‘friendly, polite and well-motivated’ pupils exhibiting ‘exemplary’ behaviour.

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Nigel Fowler, principal of Oasis Academy Clarksfield, said: “Our academy community here at Oasis Academy Clarksfield are delighted that with our recent Ofsted judgement, we are a ‘Good’ academy in all areas.

“I am truly proud of this report and thrilled to read so many positive comments.

“I would like to thank the pupils, staff, parents and members of the community who over the years have supported us on our continued journey to provide an amazing education to the young people in our care.”

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A three-person inspection team consisting of lead inspector Janette Walker, Eleanor Overland, and Shameem Patel, visited the school on April 25 and April 26.

Pupils were said to enjoy positive relationships with each other and staff, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

The school was said to have a broad and ambitious curriculum for all pupils, ordered carefully from early years onwards. However, on occasion, teachers were said to not use assessment strategies to effectively check pupils’ understanding, meaning some gaps in learning are not addressed properly.

The school’s high priority on teaching pupils to read has led to many older pupils enjoying independent reading, enthusiastically discussing books their teachers read to them in class.

Inspectors praised the school’s ‘Tremendous Tuesdays’ initiative, which sees pupils attend after-school clubs to pursue interests and talents. Pupils were said to enjoy sporting activities and musical performances.

Some areas of improvement were identified in the report.

The inspection team said some books given to pupils to practice reading did not match their phonic knowledge, preventing them from practising the sounds they have learned to gain sufficient confidence. Leaders were told to ensure early-stage pupils were given books that much the sounds and letters they know.

Leaders were also told to work with families of pupils who do not attend school regularly in order to ensure they do not miss out on their education.