THE work of four Warrington primary schools in making big differences to the education of disadvantaged pupils has attracted praise from Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.
She wrote to the headteachers of four Warrington Primary Academy Trust (WPAT) schools – Alderman Bolton Primary Academy, Beamont Primary Academy, Bruche Primary Academy and Evelyn Street Primary Academy and Nursery – in recognition of the strong attainment outcomes they have achieved for disadvantaged pupils.
The Secretary of State wrote: “Congratulations to you and your team on the excellent outcomes the disadvantaged pupils at your school achieved at the end of the 2024/25 academic year.
“Your school’s performance places it among the very best nationally, and this is a significant achievement.
“This success reflects the dedication of your staff and the hard work of your pupils. It shows what can be achieved when ambition and commitment come together. Thank you for everything you do to give children the best possible opportunities to succeed.
“Your school’s achievements demonstrate what is possible, and I hope you will continue to share your experience and best practice with others. Even the strongest schools can go further. We encourage you to lead the way as a system leader – sharing effective practice, championing networks, supporting collaboration, and helping raise standards across the sector.”
Louise Smith, WPAT chief executive and executive headteacher at Evelyn Street Primary Academy, said: “This is a real boost for the dedicated teachers and staff in these four schools – and indeed for everyone in Warrington Primary Academy Trust.
“Disadvantaged pupils are frequently faced with far greater educational hurdles than other children, but they don’t need to be insurmountable. That’s where great schools and dedicated staff can be transformative, and it is wonderful that the hard work of our teams at Alderman Bolton, Beamont, Bruche and Evelyn Street has been recognised in this way.”
Chris Jones, executive headteacher of Bruche and Beamont Primary Academies and WPAT deputy chief executive added: “The Secretary of State’s letter praises the commitment, professionalism and passion of everyone who works to support our children in these schools and across WPAT. It was extra special for our team at Beamont who hadn’t experienced this before. They were walking around with great smiles on their faces all day!”
