St Bede’s Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The executive headteacher's vision, ambition and high expectations have led to rapid improvement in all aspects of school life. Senior leaders have an accurate understanding of the school's strengths and areas that require further development. Leaders draw well upon expertise from the local authority, the diocese and St Wilfrid's RC College to improve the provision for pupils throughout the school.

The quality of teaching has improved markedly. This is the result of new appointments, high-quality professional development and decisive action taken to eradicate weaker practice. Some teachers have also benefited from watching the best practice in the... school.

Experienced staff support and challenge trainee teachers well to develop their practice. Pupils are now making good progress in most subjects. Outcomes for disadvantaged pupils have improved considerably.

Staff use the school's assessment tracking system to identify pupils to be included in 'directed intervention groups'. These pupils make more rapid progress to catch up with their peers. Pupils behave well in lessons and during the less structured times of the school day.

They are polite, courteous and respectful. Pupils are proud to wear their uniform. The sixth form is good and improving.

Leaders have taken robust action to challenge underachieving departments. Similarly, teachers have taken strong action to improve the outcomes for underachieving students. Leaders have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the impact of the pupil premium funding.

However, they have not evaluated the impact of the Year 7 catch-up funding for literacy and numeracy with sufficient rigour. Governors have made some judicious appointments to subject leadership positions. New leaders of English and science have re-energised staff and re-organised the curriculum.

However, some subject leadership requires further development. The governing body is beginning to challenge senior leaders more effectively. Governors recognise their need for further development.

They have engaged the services of a national leader of governance to support their progress.

Information about this school

The school does not meet requirements on the publication of information about the pupil premium on its website. Almost all pupils are of White British heritage.

The proportion of disadvantaged students, those eligible for support through pupil premium funding, is broadly average. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities receiving support is significantly below average, as is the proportion who have a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan. A very small number of students who have behavioural difficulties are educated in school for part of the week and off-site, at Education Plus NE Ltd, for part of the week.

Poorly behaved pupils are excluded internally and complete the same work as their peers in the 'base'. The school met the government's minimum floor standards for secondary schools in 2015 and 2016. The executive headteacher is also executive headteacher at St Wilfrid's RC College, South Tyneside.

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