Blackpool's St Mary's Catholic Academy praised by Ofsted for ‘culture of mutual respect & high expectations'

Inspectors have praised a Blackpool academy for its ‘culture of mutual respect’ and said teachers ‘have high expectations for all pupils’.

St Mary’s Catholic Academy in St Walburgas Road was visited by Ofsted inspectors in June and they published their findings on Friday.

The school was praised for hitting the expected government standards in safeguarding, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, leadership and governance, personal development and wellbeing and post-16 provision.

Area ‘needing attention’

With lead inspector Usman Kothia finding achievement as the only area ‘needing attention’.

The Ofsted report said: “Pupils do not achieve as well as they should over time. This is reflected in below-average outcomes in national examinations across many subjects.

“As a result, too many pupils do not have the skills to prepare them for their next stages of education, employment or training. Leaders recognise these weaknesses and have prioritised improvements to the quality of teaching.

“They have introduced strategies intended to help pupils make more progress from their starting points. There are early signs of improvement in some curriculum areas. Disadvantaged pupils generally achieve in line with other disadvantaged pupils nationally. Also, pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities make appropriate progress from their starting points.

“However, leaders' actions have not yet secured consistently positive achievement across the curriculum, and overall attainment remains low. Leaders' work to improve reading is helping pupils access the curriculum more successfully. Pupils increasingly use subject-specific vocabulary to good effect and explain their learning with greater confidence.”

However, the inspectors said pupils at the academy, run by Blessed Edward Bamber Catholic Multi Academy Trust, feel happy and safe and they benefit from positive relationships with staff.

Pupils know that adults are available to support them at all times. Pupils also have systems that enable them to raise concerns online. As a result, they are confident that adults will listen to them and take appropriate action.

The inspectors said: “Established routines mean that pupils and staff understand expectations clearly. There is a culture of mutual respect across the school that reflects the ethos of the school. Consequently, pupils learn in classrooms where there is little disruption. Leaders deal with bullying effectively. Leaders know pupils well and have high ambitions for all.

“Leaders ensure that disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive appropriate support.”

School leaders are said to have designed a broad and ambitious curriculum that is designed to equip pupils with the knowledge and skills that prepare them for local employment opportunities.

Inspectors also praised the school for its handling of poor behaviour and bullying.

The inspectors said: “Leaders exhaust all other avenues of support before using suspensions and permanent exclusions as a last resort. They take bullying and discriminatory behaviour seriously and respond swiftly if incidents occur.”

Looking to the future

Inspectors said leaders should ensure that improvements to teaching, including the checks made on what pupils know and remember, are embedded across all subjects. Leaders should ensure that improvements to the curriculum lead to a positive trend in pupils' achievement. Leaders should also refine the tracking of pupils' participation in the personal development programme to respond to their individual needs and aspirations across all phases.

Juliet Morgan, Headteacher at St. Mary's Catholic Academy, said: “We are delighted that St. Mary's Catholic Academy’s latest Ofsted report highlighted our school for its safe, inclusive and ambitious culture. Ofsted also praised the school for meeting all safeguarding standards and cultivating a calm, supportive environment where pupils feel happy and safe.

“ Ofsted also praised our positive environment & attendance, inclusive support, rich opportunities and strong sixth form.

“We remain committed to using these strong foundations to drive further improvements in achievement across all subjects. Indeed, our summer GCSE and A-level results were strong and we are proud to see significant growth in our sixth form numbers as a result!

“If you would like your son/daughter to be part of this amazing school and sixth form, contact [email protected] or see our website for further details.

“Together, we embrace and live out the St. Mary's way!”