St Thomas More Catholic School, Willenhall

Overview

The report describes a school where pupils feel part of a "warm, welcoming community" and are "happy" and "safe". Leaders have developed an "ambitious" curriculum and a new approach to teaching, resulting in good progress for many pupils, though consistency varies across classes.

Strengths

• The school fosters a "positive and respectful school culture" where bullying is "rare" and pupils feel staff will address concerns.
• Teachers possess "strong subject knowledge" and use effective strategies to help pupils "remember earlier learning" and identify gaps in understanding.
• The curriculum is "suitably ambitious for all pupils" and builds effectively on primary school experiences, with specific pathways supporting sixth-form students.
• Staff adapt learning effectively for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, who "value and benefit from the additional support".
• Governors "understand their role" and share the headteacher’s vision, carrying out statutory duties with dedicated responsibilities.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must "systemically monitor the impact" of interventions for reading and attendance to ensure timely adaptations are made.
• Strategies to improve attendance and punctuality need to be embedded, as "too many pupils are late" and do not attend "regularly enough".
• Senior leaders should help teachers consistently embed the new teaching approach to ensure all pupils "remember what they have learned".

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective," with staff receiving regular training and using external agencies to support families.