St Peter’s Catholic School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school.

Students make outstanding progress and consistently reach standards that are above national averages in a wide range of subjects, including English, mathematics and the specialist science subjects. The quality of teaching is outstanding and leaders have ensured that there is a high degree of consistent practice across the school, although a very small minority of teachers do not fully stretch the most able students. The marking of students' work is consistently strong; teachers provide helpful tips to students on how to improve their work and students respond very well to this advice.

This leads to rapid progress. Students' behav...iour in lessons is exemplary. They are very keen to learn and to do well.

They are polite, caring and courteous, showing respect for adults and for each other. Students say they feel very safe, and they have a very good understanding of how to keep themselves safe. They say that bullying is very rare and that the school takes quick and firm action should it occur.

The sixth form is outstanding. Students show strong commitment to their studies as a result of outstanding teaching. They make a significant contribution to school life by supporting younger students and acting as excellent role models.

The outstanding curriculum that students follow is very well matched to their abilities and interests. It includes a strong focus on promoting literacy and numeracy skills across different subjects. The school ensures that promoting students' outstanding spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is a key focus throughout its work.

The headteacher, very well supported by a strong team of leaders and the governing body, has been quick to establish high expectations of all. Leaders show a strong capacity to sustain the improvements made since the previous inspection. Senior and subject leaders and teachers work as a close team to drive improvements in the quality of teaching across the school, supporting each other very well and sharing good practice.

Information about this school

The school is larger than the average-sized secondary school. The proportion of disabled students and those who have special educational needs is below average at 10%. The majority of students are from White British backgrounds.

About 21% are from minority ethnic backgrounds, the largest group being of Irish heritage. The proportion of students who speak English as an additional language is low at 3%. The proportion of students supported through the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for students in local authority care and those known to be eligible for free school meals, is below average at about 10%.

A very few students in Year 9 attend off-site alternative provision at the Lighthouse when required. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress in English and mathematics by the end of Year 11. The headteacher and the deputy headteacher took up their posts in September 2014, having previously been acting deputy headteachers at the school.

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