St Patrick's Catholic College, A Voluntary Catholic Academy

Overview

St Patrick’s Catholic College is described as a school where leaders have significantly improved standards since the previous inspection, particularly in behaviour and attendance. The report highlights a “deeply respectful culture” where pupils feel safe and demonstrate “very positive attitudes to learning.” While achievement is currently at an expected standard, leaders are actively working to deepen pupils’ knowledge across the curriculum.

Strengths

• Attendance is a “high priority,” with robust systems resulting in rates “above the national average,” including for disadvantaged pupils.
• Behaviour is excellent; there is a “deeply respectful culture” where bullying is rare and leaders act quickly on issues.
• Staff morale is high, with leaders fostering a “supportive culture” and prioritising staff wellbeing.
• The school is highly inclusive, with “carefully tailored interventions” ensuring pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive effective support.
• Personal development is strong, with a comprehensive PSHE curriculum and opportunities for pupils to engage with the wider community.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure teaching is adapted consistently to help pupils “deepen their knowledge and understanding” across all curriculum areas.
• Leaders should further develop the impact of teaching and assessment in personal, social and health education to ensure pupils develop a “consistently deep understanding.”

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an “open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility” and concerns are actively identified and managed.