A HEAD teacher has welcomed inspectors’ findings that recognise the efforts being made to improve a popular school.
Ofsted praised the new leadership at The English Martyrs Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Hartlepool, for “raising expectations for what pupils should achieve”.
Lead inspector Katie Spurr said: “English Martyrs Catholic School and Sixth Form College is undergoing a period of change. Leaders from the trust have made significant changes to leadership, particularly pastoral leadership, to ensure that school improvement continues to move forward.”
Inspectors also appreciated that it was early days and improvements were still being fully developed.
The report said: “Leaders have introduced many new systems and policies. These are still embedding in school. This means that leaders have not had the opportunity to evaluate the impact of many of the systems.”
But they described as ‘good’ sixth form provision and personal development.
The report also noted:
- leaders have prioritised creating a broad and ambitious curriculum for pupils
- leaders have thought carefully about what they want pupils to learn in different subjects. This content is mapped out logically so that pupils can build knowledge over time
- support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is strong; pupils with SEND and parents talk positively about the support staff provide
- recently appointed leaders are introducing further strategies to boost the progress of disadvantaged pupils
- leaders have ensured that support is in place for pupils who find reading more difficult. Leaders check the impact of this support. Newly appointed staff have begun to prioritise reading across the curriculum and for pleasure. The library is a busy, much-valued space
- pupils learn about issues that will prepare them to be positive citizens
- leaders have recently devoted more curriculum time to virtues lessons; younger pupils talk clearly about respecting other people and equality
- leaders have made changes to the school day by lengthening lunchtime to make sure that all pupils can access extra-curricular clubs
- younger pupils talked with enthusiasm about the range of opportunities they enjoy; the school promotes The Duke of Edinburgh’s (DoE) Award and these activities are especially well attended
- leaders have an accurate view of their future priorities for the school
- there is a strong culture of safeguarding in school.
Head teacher Sara Crawshaw, who was appointed last year, said: “I’m delighted Ofsted praised the new leadership and the systems we have put in place. Our broad and ambitious curriculum along with our strong culture of safeguarding and pastoral care were noted as being strengths.
“I’m thrilled that our Sixth Form was highlighted as having a strong academic focus and students shared with inspectors how they benefited from the personalised support they receive. The Sixth Form curriculum was described as impressive.
“Our students shone in the inspection sharing their enthusiasm for a range of opportunities the school provides.
“Ofsted support that our leaders have an accurate view of how to improve and that passionate and committed leadership was evident throughout the two-day inspection.”