St Bede's Catholic Voluntary Academy

Overview

The report describes a school with an “inclusive Christian ethos” that creates a “welcoming environment” where pupils are polite and respectful. Leaders have high expectations for conduct and aspiration, resulting in rare bullying and effective interventions when issues arise. The curriculum is broad and ambitious, with most pupils achieving well, though there are specific concerns regarding support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “broader than the expectations of the national curriculum,” including two languages and drama, with teachers who are “knowledgeable about the subjects they teach.”
• Pupils engage in “impactful leadership roles,” contributing to behaviour policy changes and charitable work, while receiving “high-quality careers education.”
• Safeguarding arrangements are “effective,” with staff reporting concerns “promptly” and leaders maintaining detailed records and conducting weekly reviews.
• Reading is “prioritised increasingly,” with early identification of struggling readers and a diverse range of texts exposing pupils to issues such as “social justice.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders should work with families to remove barriers to attendance, as “too many disadvantaged pupils are persistently absent,” resulting in gaps in knowledge.
• Leaders should review pupil profiles and provide greater scrutiny of provision for pupils with SEND, as current information is “not precise enough” and support strategies are not used consistently.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” noting that staff know how to report welfare concerns promptly and pupils learn about risks such as county lines.