St Bede’s Catholic College

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Students' achievement is good. From their relatively high starting points, students make good progress to reach standards that are above average, including in English and mathematics.

Over time, teaching is typically good. Leaders are seeking ways of making it even better. There is very good support for teachers who are helped to meet their high targets.

The behaviour of students is outstanding. They work together in harmony. Students have a wide range of responsibilities, such as prefects and peer mentors.

Attendance is very good. The college ensures that it provides a very safe environment for all students and teaches them abo...ut keeping safe beyond school. There has been much work on developing subject leaders' expertise, which in turn has eliminated weak teaching and improved students' progress.

Leadership and management are outstanding. Since the college opened, leaders have carried out excellent work identifying weaknesses and addressing them effectively. The governing body has supported the work of the college highly effectively through a combination of providing support and challenge.

The college opened a new sixth form in September 2013. The sixth form is good because it offers a choice of subjects and courses well suited to learners and supports students' personal development very well. Opportunities for spiritual, moral, social and cultural development are outstanding.

Students have many opportunities to extend their skills and talents, including work for charities, visits to places of interest, and participation in sports and performing arts. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teaching does not always lead to students making rapid progress. At times teachers do not plan challenging enough work to stretch students and help them achieve the highest grades.

Information about this school

The college became an academy in November 2011. The predecessor school was on the same site and also known as St Bede's Catholic College. When the predecessor school was last inspected in June 2007, it was judged outstanding.

The college is an average-sized secondary school, taking students from 11 years of age. It serves the Catholic diocese of Clifton, including parts of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The college is regularly over subscribed.

The college opened a sixth form for the first time in September 2013. The college has invested in a new building, which is dedicated as a sixth form centre. Current sixth form students have now completed the first year of their courses.

The majority of students are from White British backgrounds, with many minority ethnic groups represented. The proportion of students from minority ethnic backgrounds is above the national average, as is the percentage of students who speak English as an additional language. Nearly 30 different languages are spoken by pupils in their homes.

The proportion of disabled students and those who have special educational needs supported through school action is well below average. The proportion supported through school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is also well below the national average. The proportion of students entitled to receive pupil premium funding is less than half the national average.

This funding provides additional support for looked-after children and students known to be eligible for free school meals. In Years 7 and 8, a small proportion of students are entitled to additional help in mathematics and English, funded by the government's catch-up programme. The college meets the government's current floor standard, which sets the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress.

A very small number of students are educated at other sites when the need arises. The Principal of the college is a National Leader of Education. The Principal and her colleagues provide support to other local schools across the primary and secondary phase.