Bishop Walsh Catholic School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The school is very well led by a capable and successful principal who has both vision and purpose.

He is very ably supported by a highly effective team of senior leaders. The principal and senior leaders are ambitious for the school. They have extremely high levels of support from staff, parents and pupils for the actions they take to further improve the school.

Academy directors and representatives that govern the school challenge and support leaders well. They are fully involved in making purposeful strategic plans. Teachers use questioning well so that pupils provide detailed and thoughtful responses that help them improve their work.<...br/>
Pupils are making good progress in almost all subjects and in all year groups, including English and mathematics. The proportion of pupils achieving good GCSE grades, including English and mathematics is much higher than the national average. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding.

The school very successfully promotes tolerance, respect and fairness, ensuring that pupils develop into well-rounded young people. Pupils' behaviour is outstanding. They are thoughtful and polite to others and very well behaved in lessons and at other times of the day.

Students' progress in all qualifications in the sixth form is at least good. The proportion of sixth formers successfully moving on to further education, employment or training after leaving Bishop Walsh Catholic School sixth form is much higher than the national average and is increasing. It is not yet an outstanding school because : There are gaps between the achievement of disadvantaged pupils and their peers.

Attendance of disadvantaged pupils is still not high enough. Sometimes teachers do not use their assessment of pupils' current knowledge, skills and understanding to provide the right level of challenge as the lesson progresses. Occasionally, teachers do not challenge pupils who are not fully engaged in learning activities.

Information about this school

Bishop Walsh Catholic School is an average-sized secondary school and has a sixth form. The school forms part of the John Paul II Multi-Academy. The proportion of pupils who are supported through the pupil premium (which provides additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after by the local authority) is below average.

Many of the pupils are of White British background and the school has a lower than average intake of pupils of minority ethnic heritage. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and disability with a statement or education, health and care plan is average; the proportion supported by the school is below average. The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. There are currently no pupils who receive part or all of their education with other providers. The school's last section 48 inspection of religious education took place in September 2011.