St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls

Overview

This is a “caring learning community” where pupils feel part of a “big family” and are guided by core values such as “generosity, kindness and integrity”. The school provides a “calm and orderly environment” with high expectations for conduct and achievement, resulting in a “Good” overall effectiveness judgement. Sixth-form provision is judged “Outstanding”, with students producing work of an “exceptionally high standard”.

Strengths

• Pupils are “polite, respectful, and welcoming”, and bullying is not accepted, with staff quick to address incidents.
• The curriculum is “well sequenced overall” and “ambitious for all”, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• Sixth-form students excel in their learning and serve as “strong role models” for younger pupils.
• Staff have “strong subject knowledge” and use assessment to check understanding and address gaps in most subjects.
• Leaders provide “high-quality, impartial careers advice” and ensure pupils with SEND are “fully included” in school life.

Areas to improve

• In a few subjects, checks on learning do not consistently identify when pupils struggle with “key academic language”, leaving understanding insecure.
• Curricular planning in some areas does not clearly define the specific knowledge building blocks required, meaning pupils sometimes move to complex ideas before they are ready.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective”, with policies reflecting recent government guidance and staff being “vigilant” about risks to pupils’ welfare.