Hello I am Mrs Day and I am the Headteacher at Co-op Academy Clarice Cliff.

Hello, I am Mrs Day, and I am incredibly proud to be the Headteacher of Co-op Academy Clarice Cliff.

Our most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2025 recognised that “Co-op Academy Clarice Cliff truly is one big family made up of pupils, parents and carers, staff and the wider community.” This sense of belonging sits at the very heart of everything we do.

It is reflected in our FAMILY values, which guide our relationships, learning and daily life in school:

 

F – Friendship

A – Achievement

M – Motivation

I – Inclusion

L – Learning

Y – You matter

 

From the moment you arrive, you will feel the warmth of our academy. Pupils and families are welcomed each day by friendly staff on the gate, calm and purposeful classrooms, and an exciting, ambitious curriculum. Every pupil starts the day with a bagel as part of the National Breakfast programme to set them up for the day.  Our extensive outdoor spaces enhance learning and wellbeing and include a polytunnel, a large 3G football pitch and outdoor gym equipment, ensuring children have opportunities to thrive both academically and physically.

Ofsted also recognised that “behaviour across the school reflects a positive and highly respectful culture.” Our pupils are kind, considerate and hardworking, and they take pride in their school. Children confidently share that “all are welcome” at Clarice Cliff – a message that is regularly echoed by visitors to our academy.  We celebrate weekly with our infamous Celebration Assembly where pupils get to come down the red carpet and share their successes with the whole school.  Everyone looks forward to this part of the week!

Our Sunshine Café sits at the heart of our social values both inside and beyond the classroom. The café provides a welcoming and inclusive space at lunchtimes where pupils come together to share food, build relationships and feel a sense of belonging. Through initiatives such as themed lunches, family engagement opportunities and wider community support, the Sunshine Café reflects our belief that education is about people as much as progress. It embodies our commitment to kindness, dignity and ensuring that every child feels supported and valued.

As a highly inclusive and diverse school, this welcome extends beyond our pupils to their families and the wider community. We value strong partnerships with parents, carers and external agencies, and we actively promote family learning opportunities to support every child’s success. By working closely with a range of professionals, we ensure that support is timely, personalised and effective.

Our high expectations and ambition for every pupil are reflected in strong attainment across all key stages. Phonics is a particular strength and underpins our commitment to “Every child a reader.” Reading is woven into the fabric of school life, from inviting reading corners and cosy nooks to our beautiful, well-stocked library, which is enjoyed by pupils during the day and opened to families after school. Reading is truly celebrated here.

Children begin their learning journey in our nurturing Early Years department, which includes a full-time nursery provision. A bespoke curriculum, inspiring indoor environments and outstanding outdoor spaces — including a park-style setting — support children to develop confidence, independence and strong foundations for future learning.  We also run a fun weekly toddler group so that we can build those relationships with prospective pupils and families as soon as possible.

Our school offers before and after school provision from 7.30 in the morning until 5.30 p.m. with our well established paid Busy Bees club.  This is run by highly trained school staff onsite and offers high quality before and after school childcare.

At Co-op Academy Clarice Cliff, we believe education extends beyond academic outcomes. Every pupil benefits from a rich and carefully planned personal development offer, including our “101 things to do” before leaving primary school. This includes trips and visits, leadership roles, fundraising opportunities, extra-curricular clubs and careers events. Our sporting achievements have earned us the Gold School Games award and our work on raising aspirations through careers has earned us the Gold Primary Futures award.  We are proud to go beyond the ordinary, and our much-loved Clarice Cliff Olympics is an annual highlight that is talked about long after it ends. Importantly, this offer is for every single child.

Being part of the Co-op Academies Trust also provides pupils with the chance to visit 1 Angel Square in Manchester for activities such as a spelling bee and Maths Olympics with other schools across Manchester, Merseyside and Yorkshire.  We have also had success in the Trust “Young Musician of the Year” competition where pupils have performed at venues such as HOME theatre in Manchester.

We love welcoming new families to our academy, and our pupils often say, “we are welcoming a new friend.” Tours are available every day and can be booked via our website or Facebook page, and we would be delighted to show you what makes our school such a special place. I look forward to welcoming you to the Clarice Cliff family and being part of your child’s primary school journey.