St Columbanus' College

Overview

St Columbanus’ College continues to demonstrate a "high level of capacity for sustained improvement" in the interest of all learners. The inspection confirmed that the school effectively uses self-evaluation and strategic planning to drive progress, particularly in raising attainment at Key Stage 4 and post-16.

Strengths

• Lessons observed were "effective," featuring "well-targeted questioning," differentiated tasks, and a clear focus on pupil learning.
• KS4 outcomes remain a "key strength," with the proportion of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A*–C rising significantly to 88.6% in 2019.
• The school acted "swiftly and strategically" to improve post-16 results, increasing A-level attainment to 51.5% through appropriate curricular changes.
• Pupils are described as "friendly, articulate and confident," speaking positively about the support they receive and the "community ethos."
• A dedicated data team works "collegially and strategically" to analyse progress and set realistic, challenging targets for pupils.

Areas to improve

• The report identifies no significant areas for improvement, noting instead that the school has successfully addressed previous challenges and continues to broaden its curriculum.

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding arrangements "reflect the guidance issued by the Department of Education" and that pupils feel safe and know how to report concerns.