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Longsight Community Primary School welcomes Education Secretary
Longsight Community Primary School welcomed Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, to their school after receiving praise from the Government for its excellent progress and outcomes for pupils facing disadvantage.
The visit to the school, which is part of the Multi-Academy Trust, Big Life Schools, follows a letter from Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, commending its strong performance and the difference it is making for children and families in the local community.
Addressed to Headteacher Rukhsana Ahmed, Ms Phillipson congratulated Longsight Community Primary for being “among the very best nationally” for outcomes achieved by pupils facing disadvantage. She also encouraged the school to continue working alongside others to raise standards more widely, recognising Longsight as a leader in supporting improvement across the sector.
She wrote: “Congratulations to you and your team on the excellent outcomes disadvantaged pupils at Longsight Community Primary achieved at the end of the 2024 to 2025 academic year. 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.”
Staff and pupils at Longsight Community Primary were delighted to welcome the Education Secretary and her team to their school for a personal visit.
“It was great to meet with staff and pupils at Longsight Primary, and see the brilliant work going on to ensure every child can achieve and thrive – from their debating club to the Treehouse SEND provision and the onsite Family Hub.” – Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson
As one of 31 Greater Manchester primary schools benefiting from the Government’s upcoming free breakfast club initiative, Ms Phillipson began her visit in the school’s current breakfast club to see first-hand how the scheme provides pupils with a positive start to each school day.
Ms Phillipson also met with a group of KS2 pupils to hear what makes their school special and matters most to them in children’s education. Pupils spoke proudly about their right to an education, as well as developing their vocabulary and language skills, which reflected Longsight Community Primary’s status as an Oracy Centre of Excellence. They also shared their enthusiasm for an upcoming inter-school debate tournament, receiving some helpful tips from the Education Secretary, who shared her own experience in school debate teams.
The visit concluded with a tour where Ms Phillipson was able to stop by each classroom and learn more about how the integrated Longsight Family Hub provides family support to children from birth, strengthening the school’s relationship with the wider community of Longsight.
Ms Phillipson said: “It was great to meet with staff and pupils at Longsight Primary, and see the brilliant work going on to ensure every child can achieve and thrive – from their debating club to the Treehouse SEND provision and the onsite Family Hub.
“From April, Longsight Primary will receive more support from this government to deliver a Best Start free breakfast club that will boost local parents’ work choices and their children’s life chances.
“I’d like to thank the team at Longsight for their warm welcome and for all they do to give children the best start in life.”
Rukhsana Ahmed, Headteacher at Longsight Community Primary, said: “We are incredibly proud of our children and our team. This recognition reflects the care, commitment and belief our staff bring every day, and the determination and resilience shown by our pupils. At Longsight, we believe every child deserves the chance to thrive and to be the very best they can be.
“As part of The Big Life Group, we are rooted in our community and driven by the belief that people can live well when they are supported well. We are always keen to learn from others and to share what we know, so that more children can benefit.”
Longsight Community Primary serves families in the Longsight ward of Manchester and its surrounding areas. The school is a recognised Voice 21 Oracy Centre of Excellence for work in developing students’ speaking and listening skills. It currently supports around 210 pupils aged 4 to 11, from 21 countries, speaking 16 different languages, with inclusion, kindness, respect and tolerance at the heart of everything it does.