St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Students make good progress and achieve well. Attainment in English and mathematics has been significantly above average for three years.

Students with a wide range of needs achieve well. Students known to be entitled to receive free school meals make the same equally good progress as other students. Teaching is good with an increasing proportion that is outstanding.

It has improved markedly since the previous inspection. Most lessons are interesting, creative and enjoyable. Students' behaviour and attitudes to learning are outstanding, as is their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Attendance is consistently abo...ve average. The care and support provided by the school is outstanding. As a result, nearly all students feel safe and have a very clear awareness of how to keep safe, including rules for internet safety.

The sixth form is good. Achievement is improving at A and AS level and the attainment of students currently compares favourably with national figures. Senior leaders have created a demanding but supportive climate in school.

Staff morale is high and all staff respond positively to the high expectations set for their work. On the basis of thorough and regular reviews, members of the governing body, the headteacher and senior leaders and managers know exactly what they need to do to improve the school further. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Changes to the science curriculum have improved outcomes for lower- and middle-attaining students.

However, students studying triple science have no more time than those studying double science so that fewer students are reaching the highest grades. In order to secure the improvements seen in the sixth form over the last three years, the school needs to embed the recent structural changes.

Information about this school

This is a slightly larger than average-sized secondary school with a smaller than average sixth form.

The proportion of students from minority ethnic backgrounds is smaller than average, as is the number who speak English as an additional language. The proportions of disabled students and those supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs and at school action are just below the national average. The proportion of students eligible for the pupil premium, additional funding provided for certain students, is just below national figures.

In this school this applies to students known to be eligible for free school meals and children looked after by the local authority. A very small number of students attend courses at Stoke-on-Trent College and The Reach College. The school has specialist status for the arts and holds a number of awards in recognition of its work.

These include Artsmark gold, Healthy school status, International school, Fair Trade, Eco School and the Stoke Olympic charter. The school is a member of the Newman Catholic Collegiate, which is a federation with eight local Catholic primary schools. In September 2012 the school became part of a sixth-form consortium in partnership with three other secondary schools.

Together they have created The Trinity Sixth Form College. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set minimum expectations for attainment and progress. Since the previous inspection a new deputy headteacher took up post in January this year and the senior leadership team has been restructured.