The Catholic School of Saint Gregory the Great

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The Catholic School of St Gregory the Great is an inclusive school. Pupils get the care and support they need to overcome challenges and 'dream big' for the future.The school places a high priority on pupils' personal development.

Staff know each pupil extremely well, because time is invested in forming positive and respectful relationships. This helps pupils to feel happy and safe and to have a strong sense of belonging.

Pupils demonstrate the motivation to work hard and are keen to do well.

In most subjects, pupils gain the knowledge and skills they need to achieve well.Pupils' behaviour is positive. Most behave well in lessons.

Where there is mino...r disruption, staff act promptly so that learning can continue. Children in Reception Year are beginning to learn how they should behave, and routines are in place to support them. Pupils proudly take on responsibilities, such as being eco-monitors, digital leaders and restorative stars.

Pupils value the diverse range of opportunities the school offers. These support them to develop their skills and interests in many areas, such as music, sports and the arts. For example, older pupils spoke eloquently about the recent careers fair that the school ran.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school is ambitious for pupils to receive a high-quality education. Typically, the curriculum is well organised and identifies the knowledge pupils need in order to learn well. Teachers revisit prior learning to help pupils remember the most important knowledge.

A carefully constructed and ambitious curriculum is in place. Staff have identified the knowledge and vocabulary they want pupils to learn. Teachers have thought about how they develop pupils' knowledge and skills over time.

For example, in science, they help pupils understand more by building on concepts they have learned before and ensure that pupils master key skills, such as working scientifically. Similarly, in mathematics, pupils confidently recall number facts and times tables through daily practice. However, in a few subjects, improvements to the curriculum are recent.

In these subjects, pupils do not develop the same depth of knowledge as they do in others.

The school has the aspiration that every pupil will become a fluent reader. Children begin phonics as soon as they start in Reception Year.

The school ensures that staff have the knowledge and skills to teach phonics with precision and confidence. Staff make sure that books match the phonics knowledge of each pupil. However, some pupils in the early stages of reading do not get sufficient support to practise the sounds they are learning.

This limits their reading fluency and accuracy.

Pupils are enthusiastic learners and eager to do their best. Pupils display positive attitudes towards their learning, which are linked to the St Gregory's learner tree.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive high-quality provision. The school identifies pupils' needs quickly. Staff make adaptations to support pupils to learn effectively.

This ensures that pupils with SEND can learn successfully and achieve well. This work begins before children start school. School leaders work closely with pre-school providers.

They ensure that the right provision is in place as children start in Reception Year. The school works directly with other agencies, such as health and social care, to make sure that the right support is in place at the right time. This pastoral support is integral to the work of the school.

Pupils' wider personal development is exceptional. They immerse themselves in opportunities to understand how to be responsible, active citizens. Pupils go out of their way to look after each other and speak up against injustice.

Pupils live up to the school's motto of 'believe and achieve'. No matter what their beliefs or culture, they treat each other with respect and celebrate diversity equally. This makes them well prepared for their future.

Pupils have a wealth of additional activities available to them. Extra-curricular clubs include those for cheerleading, street dance and 'mini medics'. Clubs are on offer to all pupils and are well attended.

These opportunities develop pupils' self-confidence and self-esteem.

Parents and carers are thrilled with the school. They appreciate the way in which the schools support both pupils and families.

Many commented on how the school goes 'above and beyond' to support their child. As a result, parents are confident that their children receive a good education and are well looked after.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some subjects, the school is not clear enough about the knowledge it wants pupils to learn and remember. This means that pupils do not gain the depth of knowledge needed to help them make links with new learning. The school must ensure that all components needed to build and deepen pupils' knowledge and skills over time are clearly identified.

• Some pupils at the early stages of reading do not have sufficient opportunities to practise their phonics and reading. This hinders these pupils from becoming fluent readers. The school must ensure that these pupils practise their reading enough to enable them to develop their fluency and confidence.

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