Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school All groups of pupils in the main school make good progress in the different subjects and year groups. Teaching is good in most subjects.

Teachers have good subject knowledge that results in learning which is well matched to the needs of pupils. Pupils enjoy particularly strong teaching in English. The quality of teaching in this subject is consistently of a very high standard.

Provision for pupils' personal development and welfare is outstanding. Pupils feel exceptionally well cared for and they have full confidence that staff will help them if they have personal or emotional needs. Teachers ensure that most pupils have very good attitude...s to learning.

As a result, pupils work hard and try their best. Behaviour is good. Pupils behave respectfully towards each other and their teachers.

Most are well mannered and polite. Pupils work and socialise well with each other, regardless of their different backgrounds. The school is a harmonious multi-cultural community.

Leadership is good at all levels. Leaders have created a school ethos, which is underpinned by mutual respect and British values. The curriculum is very well planned so that it meets the needs of pupils.

Work to support pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness is very effective. The skilful governing body knows the school well. It holds school leaders to account appropriately for their plans and actions.

Although disadvantaged pupils are catching up well with others, leaders' plans to improve outcomes for this group of pupils are not as sharp as they could be. The quality of teaching and learning in science is not consistently good. Although improving, the sixth form requires improvement because learners do not make good progress, particularly in academic courses.

Information about this school

The school is larger than the average-sized secondary school. The headteacher provides support to Holy Trinity Catholic School. The school meets the government's floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' progress and attainment at the end of Year 11.

The school also meets the government's minimum standards for students' progress in the sixth form. A very small number of pupils attend alternative provision at the East Birmingham Network School, South and City College and a training provider called Southside. The number of pupils who attend alternative provision is too small to be reported on.