St Damian’s RC Science College

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school The headteacher is dedicated in his pursuit of excellence and has inspired others, resulting in outstanding leadership across the school. Standards are exemplary and the school is a beacon of success. The highly experienced governors are unwavering in their support and have an exceptional oversight of the school.

They hold leaders firmly to account in securing outstanding outcomes for pupils. Middle and senior leaders pursue excellence. They are highly skilled and knowledgeable.

They are uncompromising in their quest to provide an excellent education for all. As a result, pupils are thirsty learners and make exemplary progress. Th...e close-knit staff believe that all pupils can achieve, and echo a culture of high expectation.

They foster excellent relationships with pupils to ensure that pupils become the very best they can be. Disadvantaged pupils make exemplary progress across the school because leaders use additional pupil premium funding effectively. Extensive extra-curricular opportunities, external trips and school events richly develop pupils' understanding and preparation for life beyond school.

The school is rigorous in keeping all pupils safe. Leaders are meticulous in ensuring that pupils receive superb pastoral care. A comprehensive careers programme ensures that pupils are exceptionally well informed about opportunities for their next steps in life.

Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is well planned and richly embedded across a broad and balanced curriculum. Consequently, pupils are very knowledgeable about life in modern Britain. Pupils display first-rate attitudes and behaviour in classrooms and around the school.

The school is a harmonious place to learn and consequently pupils' punctuality and attendance are high. Many parents speak admiringly of the school and recognise the efforts of staff to ensure that their children thrive and achieve. The overall quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding.

However, there is still room for growth in staff expertise. A few pupils stubbornly struggle to engage with the culture of high expectations. Consequently, repeated exclusions remain too high.

Information about this school

This school is smaller than the average-sized secondary school. The number of disadvantaged pupils entitled to support through the pupil premium funding is in line with the national average. Most pupils are from White British backgrounds.

The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is above average. The proportion of these pupils with an education, health and care plan is below average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress.

On very rare occasions, the school educates pupils through off-site provision of vocational courses. Providers include Tameside College. The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website.