St Mary’s Catholic High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school This school has been transformed since the last inspection as a result of intelligent and determined leadership, including in the sixth form. Leaders, including governors, have secured evident and significant improvement throughout all aspects of the school, most particularly in the behaviour of pupils, their attendance, the quality of teaching and the achievement of disadvantaged pupils currently in the school. The school's mission, based on Catholic principles and values, has guided improvements and provided standards to which all aspire.

The ethos and culture permeating the whole school mean that decisions are based solely on what is best for p...upils. Since the last inspection, despite a slow start, the rate of improvement has gathered impetus. Provision is now good for current pupils.

Leaders continually review the curriculum to ensure that pupils achieve well academically and personally. However, the personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education is not as well planned, monitored or evaluated as it might be. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is promoted well.

In previous years, pupils' progress and attainment have not been strong. This was due to variability in teaching and subject leadership. Recent actions have resulted in pupils, especially those in key stage 3, making much stronger progress than in the past.

Nonetheless, a legacy of underachievement remains for some older pupils. While the achievement gap between boys and girls is reducing, this discrepancy remains for current pupils at the school. There are still some weaknesses in the quality of mathematics teaching.

Pupils currently in Year 11 have gaps in their understanding, as a result of historically much weaker teaching. Leaders have skilfully and precisely identified what individual teachers and subject leaders need to do to perform at a higher level. Leaders have provided high-quality support and guidance to enable the whole teaching body to improve.

Teaching, including in the sixth form, is good. Sixth-form students are successful in their learning and wider development. Pupils and students behave well.

They have positive attitudes to learning. They are kept safe and feel safe while at school.

Information about this school

The school is situated in the Archdiocese of Liverpool and within the Wigan local authority.

The school received a section 48 inspection of its religious provision in June 2014. The school is larger than average, with a sixth form. About a fifth of pupils are disadvantaged.

Although there have been many changes to the staffing body since the last inspection, the senior leadership team is substantially the same. No pupil currently attends alternative provision to extend their curriculum or to receive special support with managing their behaviour. A small number of pupils attend other providers to receive medical treatment.