A MOSSLEY primary school has been recognised by Ofsted for its inclusive culture, with disadvantaged pupils achieving above national averages in key subjects.
Livingstone Primary School has been praised by inspectors for creating a welcoming environment where children feel safe, supported and ready to learn.
The Vale Side establishment achieved the Strong Standard in both Inclusion and Attendance and Behaviour in its latest Ofsted inspection, with the Expected Standard awarded in the other five graded areas. Safeguarding standards were also met.
Inspectors highlighted the school’s calm classrooms, positive relationships and tailored support for vulnerable pupils, while noting that disadvantaged children achieve well above national averages in reading and mathematics.
The report describes how pupils “feel welcome and valued” and “feel happy, cared for and safe”.
It also praises the way children “play cooperatively and resolve disagreements calmly” during break and lunchtimes, with older pupils acting as role models and supporting their younger classmates.
Support for the school’s most vulnerable children was another area singled out for praise, with inspectors describing provision as “expertly tailored” to ensure pupils are “fully included in all aspects of school life.”
Head teacher Rebecca Willard said the recognition reflected the work of the entire school team.
She said: “This report is the work of the staff at Livingstone: the teachers, teaching assistants, learning mentor, admin and site team, midday supervisors, everyone. They know every child, they care about every child, and they turn up every day ready to give them the best.
“What comes through in the report does not happen by accident. The calm classrooms, the warmth, and the careful support for children who need extra help, is the result of years of thoughtful, patient, skilled work by a team who care deeply about the community they serve. I could not be prouder of them.”
Livingstone serves a community in Tameside, one of England’s more deprived local authority areas, with around a quarter of its pupils eligible for pupil premium funding and a similar proportion registered as having special educational needs.
Despite these challenges, the school’s results show disadvantaged pupils making strong progress. Over the three most recent years, 59 per cent of disadvantaged pupils achieved the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with 46 per cent nationally among disadvantaged pupils.
The inspection also found that, in 2025, pupils eligible for free school meals achieved a higher proportion of expected standards in reading and mathematics than non-disadvantaged pupils nationally.
The report noted that children looked after by the local authority receive carefully tailored support and are fully included in school life.
Chair of governors Simon Wilde said the findings reflected the experiences of families at the school.
He commented: “What the inspectors saw is what our families already know. Livingstone is a warm, close-knit school where children are cared for as individuals.
“I want to thank the parents and carers of our children. The inspectors singled out the warm relationships between staff and pupils, and those relationships are built with families, not just in classrooms. The trust our families place in the school, and the way they support their children’s learning at home, is what the inspectors saw.”
Livingstone is a maintained community primary school with 198 pupils from Nursery to Year 6.
The inspection was carried out under Ofsted’s new framework, introduced in November 2025, which assesses schools across seven separate areas rather than awarding a single overall judgement. Schools are graded on a five-point scale, ranging from Urgent Improvement to Exceptional.
The full report is available on the Ofsted website.