St Bede’s Inter-Church School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. The leadership and management of the school are outstanding.

The headteacher and senior leaders instil a clear vision of success and implement robust and effective strategies to secure high levels of achievement in key subjects such as English and mathematics. Middle leaders employ experience and skill to secure high quality teaching in their areas. They play a key role in the management processes of the school.

Teaching over time is outstanding. Careful and effective monitoring has ensured its continued improvement. The use of a range of strategies to check students' understanding in lessons is a particular strength.

Ho...wever, the quality of the marking of students' work is not of a consistently high standard. Governors provide effective challenge and support to the school. Their monitoring of finance, risk assessment and the overseeing of students' spiritual and wellbeing are particular strengths.

Students' behaviour is outstanding. They come to lessons ready to learn. They feel very safe and happy at school.

Attendance is above average and improving. The small numbers of students with disabilities and those with special educational needs make outstanding progress. This is also true for students who speak English as an additional language and ethnic groups.

Effective strategies and monitoring are enabling the small numbers of students entitled to pupil premium support to close the gap with their peers. The school's provision for supporting students' reading is outstanding. Social, moral, spiritual and cultural provision is well delivered through a range of opportunities.

The school's strong religious ethos provides rich opportunities for spiritual and moral development.

Information about this school

St Bede's Inter Church School converted to become an academy in March 2012. When its predecessor school was last inspected by Ofsted in March 2011, it was judged to be outstanding.

The new school is a smaller than average secondary school. It is an inter-church school serving both the Roman Catholic and Anglican Christian denominations and recruits from over 50 primary schools. Students come from mainly one ethnic group.

White British students are in the overwhelming majority. The proportion of students entitled to support through the pupil premium is well below average. There have been no children looked after by the local authority in Year 11 examination groups since 2012.

The proportion of disabled students and those with special educational needs supported through school action is below average. The proportion of students supported through school action plus and statements is well below average. The number of students who speak English as an additional language is broadly average.

The school meets the government's current floor targets, which set the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress. The school provides a breakfast club and a range of lunch time and after school clubs. These include individual subject and homework support and very comprehensive opportunities for sport, drama and music.