School remains good despite quitting unsafe building

Sacred Heart in Barrow was evacuated after a building inspection in January 2023

A headteacher has thanked a town for its support after a school kept its good Ofsted rating despite pupils having to learn in temporary classrooms.

Pupils of Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in Lumley Street, Barrow, had to leave their school in January 2023 after inspectors said the building was unsafe.

Since then, children have had to be taught in different locations and despite the challenges, inspectors have rated the school good.

Headteacher Simone Beach, said it had been a "tricky time" and she was proud of her "special town."

She said minimising disruption to pupils had been a team effort.

"It's been such a tricky time, but I am so proud of how everybody in Barrow has pulled together and helped us, it's such a special town," Mrs Beach said.

"The situation has been so unusual and it's had some unique challenges, but the staff, what they've done, has just been amazing.

"They've come up with solutions no matter what, time and time again, they've made sure the children still had clubs and trips and discos and school plays."

'Tricky time'

Some of the children had to be taken by coach every day to St Bernard's High School in Barrow, which is part of the same trust as Sacred Heart, Mater Christi Multi Academy Trust.

Others had to be taught in Portakabins in Sacred Heart's playground.

Mrs Beach said pupils often had to move at short notice.

She added: "So many schools have been there for Sacred Heart, since we were evacuated they've let us use facilities, they've invited us just to join them for special events."

Continuity

Mrs Beach said the school had qualified for money from the School Rebuilding Programme.

She said decisions on a timeline for a long-term solution were expected to made before the summer.

She added: "We can't wait to be back together as one school, but we really do want to thank everybody involved in looking after us and supporting us until that happens."

The inspection was a follow-up visit after the school was rated good in 2016.

It became an academy in 2021.

In its report published last week, Ofsted said the school had provided "continuity in pupils' education by sourcing additional premises."

"This has enabled pupils to continue to achieve well across a range of subjects," it added.