Our Lady's Grammar School

Overview

This Sustaining Improvement Inspection evaluated the school’s capacity for self-evaluation and development planning during a period of industrial action. While the report confirms that senior leadership provides effective strategic direction and pupil attainment remains high, it explicitly states that the ETI is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education” due to limited cooperation from teaching staff.

Strengths

• Senior leaders provide “effective, strategic leadership” with a “collaborative approach to school improvement with the pupils at the core.”
• “Very high standards” in public examinations are maintained, with 94% of pupils achieving seven GCSEs at grades A*-C.
• There is evidence of “capacity building of leaders, including the pupils,” through extensive leadership opportunities and a valued student voice.
• “Effective links” with local business help inform curriculum planning, fostering skills for pupils to become “effective contributors to society.”
• Pupils report “very positive relationships” with staff, pride in their school, and enjoyment of the “extensive extra-curricular offer.”

Areas to improve

• The report does not list specific pedagogical or operational areas for improvement; however, it notes the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully the outworking and impact” of improvement actions due to industrial action.

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance issued by the Department of Education” and pupils feel safe, but the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully the outworking of the arrangements” due to the industrial action.