A 'CLOSE-knit, family-orientated Catholic school where 'children easily make friends' no longer 'requires improvement'.

Sacred Heart RC Primary School in Lynwood Road, Blackburn, has been moved up to a 'good' rating after their inspection by the education watchdog Ofsted.

Headteacher Michael Parker said: "We are very pleased with our report from Ofsted. I am blessed with a tremendous staff, who know the community we serve well and embrace the cultural and faith differences, to advance social cohesion.

"While we have many pupils with fantastic academic ability, we also have pupils who arrive speaking little or no English.

"Having worked in this area for almost 30 years, I have always believed education is more about developing the whole person, rather than just simply passing examinations. All staff at Sacred Heart share that sentiment."

The inspection, conducted by James Marsh and Sheila Iwaskow, praised the school for being welcoming and providing a variety of extracurricular activities.

Their report said: "Pupils make friends easily because they care about each other. At break-times, pupils play happily with their friends from different year groups.

"Pupils behave well. They are polite and move around the school in an orderly manner.

"Any arguments are quickly resolved. Pupils are confident should any bullying occur, staff will make it stop.

"Pupils enjoy a varied range of opportunities beyond the academic curriculum to broaden their experiences.

"Older pupils contribute to decision-making within the school through their roles as school councillors and play leaders.

"Parents and carers are effusive in their praise of the school. Parents typically commented: 'This is a brilliant school.'"

Inspectors say the school has high aspirations for all children, including special needs pupils.

Staff have set out an 'ambitious' curriculum but some subject leaders are unsure whether the curriculums are being delivered' effectively'.

The report added: "Some subject leaders successfully check on how well the curriculum is being delivered to help pupils learn the agreed content. This is not the case for all subjects.

"The pandemic has meant checks on some subjects were paused. This means some subject leaders are less sure if the curriculums in these areas are being delivered effectively.

"In some subjects, there are comprehensive systems in place to check pupils' progress as they learn more and remember more over time.

"However these systems are still at an early stage of development in other subjects. This prevents leaders from gaining an accurate view of how well pupils are progressing through the curriculum."

Teachers have secure subject knowledge, says the report, so children are engaged in reading and phonics. The needs of special needs pupils are quickly identified and met.

The school is described as a 'calm place to learn' and children behave well.

The inspectors concluded arrangements for safeguarding at the school are effective.