St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon

Overview

Leaders have created a climate of “high ambition” where pupils aspire to meet expectations within a “calm and orderly” environment. The school delivers a “broad, balanced and inclusive curriculum” with strong support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Overall effectiveness is judged as Good, reflecting well-considered changes that build on the school’s traditions.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “aspirational for all pupils,” with important knowledge clearly identified and teaching that “builds knowledge over time.”
• Pastoral support is a strength, underpinned by a core house system; pupils “feel safe” and bullying is “rare.”
• Staff have “secure subject knowledge” and use effective strategies, such as “make it stick” activities, to ensure pupils retain learning.
• Pupils with SEND are “well supported,” with precise systems like class profiles helping staff remove barriers to learning.
• Sixth-form students “achieve well” and move on successfully to further education or employment.

Areas to improve

• In a few subjects, assessment is not used effectively to identify gaps in knowledge, meaning some pupils miss opportunities to address misconceptions.
• Inconsistencies in how different teachers manage classroom behaviour cause frustration and confusion for some pupils.
• The personal development curriculum is not clearly aligned between Year 11 and the sixth form, missing opportunities to consolidate knowledge.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff well trained to recognise risks and leaders responding swiftly to concerns.