St James' Catholic High School

Strengths

• Broad, ambitious curriculum that builds well on prior learning and is well understood by leaders.
• Pupils achieve well, with GCSE outcomes above national averages in English and maths and in Attainment 8.
• Disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND achieve highly and are well prepared for their next steps.
• Reading provision is particularly well established, with targeted support and careful monitoring of progress.
• Attendance is improving and persistent absence is reducing through proactive, nurturing support.
• The school is calm and orderly, lessons are rarely disrupted, and bullying is dealt with swiftly.
• Effective inclusion systems identify barriers quickly and support vulnerable pupils well.
• Wellbeing support is of high quality and careers guidance is comprehensive.
• Leadership and governance are strong, with a shared vision and a positive staff culture.
• Pupils benefit from a warm, welcoming community where they feel safe and have trusted adults.

Areas for Improvement

• Teachers' checks on understanding sometimes lack precision, so some pupils are not moved on to more ambitious content when ready.
• Support for pupils with SEND is largely effective but not always as precise as it could be.
• Some pupils need additional reminders about conduct and do not consistently demonstrate the responsibility expected.
• Not all pupils fully embrace the school's values or reflect them in their attitudes.
• Personal development opportunities sometimes miss chances to build pupils' confidence and oracy.
• Sixth-form students sometimes need reminders about punctuality.
• Sixth-form societies and clubs are not fully established.
• Sixth-form students are not always supported as well as they could be to articulate their own ideas.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools