Sacred Heart Catholic School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are extremely positive about their learning at this school. All pupils achieve highly. Through all that they do, the school encourages pupils to follow the school's values of respect, resilience, kindness and honesty.

The school's behaviour expectations are very clear. The school has established a positive culture where everyone is treated with equal respect regardless of their background. Pupils are safe.

They can and do speak to an adult when they need to. Students in the sixth form work hard, behave maturely and act as role models for younger pupils.

The school inspires pupils to develop their social skills and personal interests at clubs including ...competitive sports, coding, debating and music.

Pupils take on many leadership roles, including as behaviour and anti-bullying ambassadors, and sports and house captains. Enrichment classes in philosophy for students in the sixth form help them to prepare for their next steps in education. Pupils participate extensively in charity work and build links with the local community.

For example, during festive periods, all year groups create food hampers which pupils deliver to the homes of the elderly.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school has created a very high-quality curriculum across all subjects. Leaders continue to refine it so that it is both broad and ambitious.

As part of the school's 'creative industries' curriculum, all pupils study art, graphics, construction and food technology in Years 7 to 9.

The school's subject leaders are experienced experts. Every subject curriculum is carefully designed and sequenced.

For example, in Spanish and French, pupils steadily build up secure knowledge of the present, past and future tenses.

Pupils learn key knowledge and develop strong subject-specific skills. For example, in science, pupils in Year 9 confidently carry out experiments.

Pupils know how to create a hypothesis, collect results and plot their findings on graphs. In English, pupils learn to write persuasively, express different opinions and make comparisons between texts. Students in Year 12 identified the contrasting ways that a 'fool' is represented in Shakespeare plays.

Teachers check regularly that pupils understand what they have been taught before moving pupils on to learning new content. As a result, pupils' knowledge across the curriculum builds up securely.

The school identifies pupils who need to improve their reading and provides them with regular, effective support that quickly builds up pupils' reading fluency and confidence.

This support helps to ensure that all pupils can read ambitious curriculum content, understand and use vocabulary taught across subjects.The school provides tailored assistance for pupils with SEND across all subjects. The school also works with specialist professionals to support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) where necessary.

Leaders make sure that pupils with SEND participate in all opportunities that the school provides. High numbers of pupils attend extra-curricular clubs regularly and take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme.

Pupils learn without distraction in class.

They are courteous, kindly, interested in their learning and ready and willing to study. They participate enthusiastically in class and routinely support each other to achieve their best. The school provides pupils who may struggle to meet the school's high standards with opportunities to reflect on their conduct and actions.

Pupils' attendance is treated as a top priority at the school. The school follows up any pupil's absence from school immediately. Leaders identify any pupils at risk of frequent absence.

The school provides effective guidance and support for these pupils and their families.

Teachers enjoy working here. The school provides all staff with a wide range of professional development opportunities.

Leaders make sure that staff are well trained and fully prepared to take up further professional roles. Those responsible for governance know their duties and carry these out appropriately.

All pupils participate fully in the school's personal development programme.

Pupils are introduced to topics, such as the significance of consent, by knowledgeable staff. Leaders of subjects organise regular outings for all pupils to deepen their subject understanding. Through curriculum enrichment, pupils also visit theatres, museums and go on residential journeys.

Students in the sixth form attend drama workshops to increase their confidence and to improve their interview skills.

Pupils appreciate the school's broad careers programme. They receive quality, independent careers advice in all year groups.

Pupils are taught about the many educational choices available to them after they leave the school. Students in the sixth form have several opportunities, including at the school's careers fair, to meet employers from different industries and to learn about the world of work.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.