Oaklands Catholic School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Students achieve above average results that compare favourably with those of students in similar schools. Students, including those in the sixth form, make good progress from their varied starting points.

Teaching is typically good, with some outstanding lessons. Teachers create an extremely safe, welcoming and positive atmosphere in lessons, which helps students to work well. The sixth form has improved significantly over recent years and is now good.

The growing numbers of students in the sixth form appreciate the high quality teaching and individual support that they receive. Behaviour is good in and out of lessons. Students are court...eous, friendly and respectful to each other.

There is an extremely strong focus on developing spiritual values and a sense of right and wrong in the day-to-day routines of the school. The school is a harmonious place in which students are happy. The headteacher and his senior team are passionate and are effective and energetic about improving the school, particularly teaching and achievement and upholding the principle of 'no one left behind'.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Students are not achieving exceptionally well because there is some variation in the quality of teaching between subjects. In a very small number of lessons teachers miss opportunities to challenge students to think for themselves, use their initiative or investigate topics independently. A few lessons are not planned well enough to match the ability of the students.

Students in these lessons do not make enough progress and very occasionally do not behave well.

Information about this school

Oaklands Catholic School is a mixed 11 to 18 school with increasing numbers of students in the sixth form. It is larger than the average secondary school.

The school converted to academy status in September 2012, keeping the same name as the predecessor school. It is in the Catholic diocese of Portsmouth. When the predecessor school was last inspected by Ofsted in 2008 it was judged to be good.

The proportion of students supported through school action, school action plus or with statements of special educational needs is well below that in other schools. The majority of students are White British. The number of students from minority ethnic groups is below the national average.

Students from a wide area in Hampshire attend the school, which is over subscribed. A small number of students are eligible for the pupil premium (additional funding from the government). The proportion is below the national average.

A very few students attend alternative courses at a local further education college for one day per week. The school meets the government's current floor standard which sets the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress. The school has recently made links with other secondary schools in the area as part of a soft federation.