St Gregory’s Catholic School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Achievement is outstanding because students make excellent progress and attain consistently above average GCSE results, especially in English, mathematics and science.

The sixth form is outstanding. With high-quality teaching and guidance, students gain the qualifications they need to proceed to further or higher education. At the same time they mature into thoughtful young adults, prepared to help others in the future.

The headteacher moved the school into a higher gear by significantly improving the quality of teaching. This led to far higher standards in 2011 which have continued to improve – more top GCSE grades in 2013, for ...example. Governors, senior and middle leaders and managers work together to support staff so that they can continually reflect and develop their practice.

The harmonious and happy atmosphere around the school reflects how well all staff promote students' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Teaching is outstanding with examples of exemplary practice in all subject areas and all years. Students learn extremely well because : enthusiastic teachers give them stimulating tasks, well-structured paths towards understanding and clear guidance on how to improve their work.

Students' behaviour is outstanding, in lessons and around the school. They are polite, considerate, and welcoming to visitors. They all get on well together and have excellent, respectful relationships with staff.

All students, especially those with particular physical or learning needs, receive sensitive, practical and effective care and support to help them enjoy school life and succeed. All students feel safe and secure. Numerous, successful activities in the community benefit the school's students as much as they do primary school pupils and adults in the local area.

Many students value the fact that students of all faiths or none are welcomed into the community.

Information about this school

The school is an average-sized secondary school. There are more boys than girls.

About four out of five students are White British with the remaining students being of other White backgrounds or from minority ethnic groups. A close-to-average proportion of students speak English as an additional language, of whom a small number are at an early stage of learning English. The proportion of disabled students and those with special educational needs supported through school action is average.

The proportion of students supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is above average. The most common needs relate to hearing impairment and autistic spectrum disorders. The school has a specially resourced provision for up to 15 hearing impaired students.

A low proportion, under 100 students, is eligible for the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for specific groups including looked after children, students known to be eligible for free school meals and children of service families. The school has a very small number of looked after children and no children of service families. About 30 students are eligible for Year 7 catch-up funding, which is for students who did not achieve the expected Level 4 in English or mathematics at the end of Key Stage 2.

A small number of Key Stage 4 students attend alternative, off-site educational provision full time and about 20 students attend one day a week at either K College (construction, catering, motor vehicle and hairdressing), Hadlow College (animal management) or the Better Life in South Borough (BLIS) Café (Princes Trust). The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress. The school holds a British Council International School award.