St Anne’s Catholic School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school The headteacher's excellent leadership has improved all aspects of the school since the last inspection.

Governors and senior leaders are highly effective. Together they have created a culture where staff and pupils flourish. The headteacher has systematically developed the staff so that they have high levels of expertise in teaching and learning.

Governance is first-rate. Governors effectively contribute to the school's success because they rigorously monitor their impact on driving the school forward and challenge themselves and school leaders to do better where necessary. Outcomes are outstanding.

Excellent relationshi...ps between teachers and pupils, challenging teaching and highly effective systems for tracking pupil progress ensure all groups of pupils, including the most able, achieve very well. Achievement at GCSE has improved every year for the last three years and is well above the national average. Progress is above average in all subject areas.

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary and their attendance is above average and improving. The school is a warm and caring community where pupils flourish. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is woven through lessons and is a particular strength of the school.

Leaders and teachers have imparted the pupils with a very strong work ethic, a love of learning and a desire to excel. Disadvantaged pupils are very well supported and so make the same progress as, or better than, other pupils nationally. Pupils who have special educational needs or disability are also very well supported and so make very strong progress.

The curriculum is effective in both key stages and in the 16–19 provision, and provides excellent opportunities for pupils' personal and academic development. Pupils are happy at St Anne's Catholic School and staff keep them safe. Leaders robustly monitor safeguarding procedures and ensure that no issues slip through the net.

Information about this school

St Anne's Catholic School is a slightly larger than average-sized secondary school for girls. The school converted to become an academy in August 2012. When its predecessor school, also called St Anne's Catholic School, was last inspected by Ofsted, it was judged to be good overall.

The school has a small sixth form which also admits boys. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium (additional government funding for pupils who are eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after) is in line with the national average. Some pupils are eligible for the Year 7 catch-up premium.

A small number of pupils in Key Stage 4 attend alternative provision at Southampton City College to study vocational courses. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs or disability is well below the national average. The proportion with a statement of special educational needs or education, health or care plan is very low.

Nearly two thirds of the pupils are from minority ethnic backgrounds. Approximately half of the pupils speak English as their first language. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for attainment and progress.