St Conor's College

Overview

St Conor’s College is a Catholic maintained school operating on two sites, with a vision of ‘Living, learning, excelling together’ that is ‘embedded clearly in its ethos’. The report highlights a ‘unified and collegial staff culture’ and ‘effective strategic planning’, noting that most aspects of teaching and assessment are effective. However, it identifies the need to ensure ‘consistently high-quality learning experiences’ and addresses the urgent, unsustainable nature of the current split-site arrangement.

Strengths

• Staff demonstrate a ‘wholly shared commitment’ to the school’s vision, with ‘high levels of professional satisfaction’.
• Lessons are characterised by ‘positive working relationships and mutual respect’, with pupils engaging actively and confidently.
• The curriculum is ‘inclusive, flexible and meets the needs, aspirations and abilities of the pupils’, supported by a ‘well-structured and progressive careers education’ programme.
• Attendance has risen significantly to 92%, and pupils with special educational needs ‘make progress across the curriculum and achieve well’.
• A ‘warm and welcoming environment’ promotes well-being, with effective use of art and spiritual initiatives to support pupil health.

Areas to improve

• Ensure ‘consistently high-quality learning experiences for all the pupils’, addressing instances where there is an ‘over-emphasis on completing activities’ rather than developing deep understanding.
• Address the ‘unsustainable’ mitigations for the split-site arrangement, which requires ‘strategic input’ from external bodies to resolve staff travel issues.

Safeguarding

The report states that ‘arrangements for child and adult protection align to the current statutory guidance’ and that pupils ‘feel safe in school and online’.