Sacred Heart Catholic Secondary

Overview

The report describes Sacred Heart Catholic Secondary as a school where staff hold "high expectations" and leaders maintain an "ambitious vision" rooted in a central Christian ethos. It notes that the school has improved since its previous inspection, with pupils demonstrating pride in values such as "strength, resilience and community." The overall picture is one of a calm, orderly environment where pupils feel safe and relationships are strong.

Strengths

• Leaders have developed an "ambitious and challenging curriculum" with secure subject knowledge, particularly in core subjects like English and science.
• Pupils benefit from high-quality personal development, including a carefully planned PSHE curriculum and careers advice that won a "national award."
• Staff deal with behaviour "consistently and swiftly," creating a "calm and orderly atmosphere" where pupils understand rules and rewards.
• Leaders work closely with parents of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and have addressed historic concerns.
• Safeguarding arrangements are "effective," with a "strong culture of safeguarding" where staff are vigilant and well-trained.

Areas to improve

• In some foundation subjects, such as history and art, assessment is not used precisely enough to check if pupils are secure in prior knowledge, hindering the building of new learning.
• Some staff lack the expertise to deliver consistent support for pupils with SEND across the curriculum, requiring high-quality training.

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective," noting that staff are vigilant, receive regular training, and promptly share concerns to ensure vulnerable pupils receive timely support.