St Gregory’s Catholic Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The rigorous and resolute leadership of the head of school and the temporary headteacher, and the hard work of the whole school team, have transformed learning in St Gregory's Catholic Academy. The school has improved rapidly because : senior leaders and trust directors have tackled previous weaknesses with rigour.

Leaders' and directors of the trust's continuing ambition to eradicate underperformance and to provide the best experiences for all pupils is translated into action, and this means the school is continuing to improve. The school benefits from a highly positive and caring culture in which diversity is celebrated and kindness valued. Outc...omes for pupils are now good.

Current pupils, including the most able pupils and disadvantaged pupils, are now making strong progress from their starting points. Children in the early years are making a solid start in their learning. They benefit from a stimulating and engaging learning environment indoors and outdoors.

As a result of good teaching, pupils learn quickly and can apply their skills across all subjects. Teachers assess pupils' work carefully and give timely support and guidance so that pupils know their next steps in learning. Leaders' planned and agreed actions to improve teaching still further are not yet consistently applied in every class.

Occasionally, some teachers do not provide work that is suitably challenging for pupils, including the most able and the most able disadvantaged pupils. As a result, their progress slows. The behaviour of pupils is good.

They are polite, friendly and have good manners. Pupils have excellent attitudes to learning, work well together and are motivated to succeed. Leaders have lengthy and detailed plans to improve the school still further.

These plans lack a sharp focus on the progress pupils make in their learning and are not regularly monitored to assess their impact on pupils' outcomes.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. The school complies with Department for Education guidance on what academies should publish.

St Gregory's Catholic Academy is a similar size to the average-sized primary school and is a member of Carmel Education Trust. The trust is governed by a board of directors. St Gregory's Catholic Academy has its own Interim Advisory Board made up of the chief executive officer, directors of the trust and a diocesan representative.

The performance of the head of school is managed by the chair of the Interim Advisory Board and directors of the trust. The head of school returned to her post the day before the inspection, following extended leave. The temporary headteacher was also present during the inspection.

There have been a number of changes to the teaching staff since the previous inspection. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for support through the pupil premium is higher than the national average. The vast majority of pupils are of White British heritage and speak English as their first language.

The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is lower than that found nationally. Early years provision is part-time in the Nursery and full-time in the Reception Year. The school meets the current floor standards, which are the government's minimum expectations for attainment and progress in English and mathematics at the end of Year 6.