St Paul’s Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher, supported well by senior leaders, has a clear vision for the school and has high expectations of staff and pupils.

Senior leaders have improved the school significantly since the previous inspection and the school is well placed to improve further. Leaders have a clear, honest and objective understanding of the school's strengths and areas for development. Leaders have successfully improved teaching.

In most classes, year groups and subjects, pupils learn well and make strong progress. Teachers have good knowledge of their subjects and understand the requirements of the examination courses they offer. Teachers ask pupils ...questions to deepen their understanding of subjects.

Pupils frequently respond with detailed answers without further prompting. The curriculum is broad and balanced and frequently highly personalised. However, some disadvantaged pupils and those with low starting points do not take examination courses that support these pupils to do as well as they could.

The governing body is effective. Governors are dedicated, know the school well and hold leaders to account. Behaviour of pupils is consistently good in lessons and around the school.

They are courteous, polite and respectful. In lessons, most pupils demonstrate positive attitudes to learning. Overall, attendance has remained close to the national average.

For disadvantaged pupils and those who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities, attendance has improved and is now close to that of their peers in school. Disadvantaged pupils currently in the school are making increasingly good progress across a wide range of subjects. However, leaders do not always precisely analyse the impact of actions taken to further accelerate disadvantaged pupils' progress so that they can make progress in line with that of other pupils nationally.

The sixth form is outstanding and students make very strong progress. Leaders here are relentless in their promotion of academic excellence. The school's arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff work well with pupils and parents and carers to ensure that pupils are safe.

Information about this school

This school is slightly larger than the average secondary comprehensive. Pupils travel from all over the county to attend this school.

Pupils come from a diverse range of backgrounds, and around a half of the pupils are from minority ethnic groups. Around a third of pupils speak English as an additional language, which is above the national average. The proportion of pupils eligible for pupil premium funding is similar to other secondary schools nationally.

The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is similar to other schools nationally. A lower proportion than nationally are in receipt of education, health and care plans. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress by the end of Key Stage 4.

There are nine pupils who study courses off-site. The alternative provision is sourced through the Leicester Partnership Schools. Pupils access full-time and part-time courses from The Carisbrooke Specialist Learning Centre.

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