St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Following a period of decline, strong and thoughtful leadership from the principal and other leaders have seen the school improve considerably over the past 18 months. It now provides pupils with a good quality of education.

Leaders and governors have high expectations. They have put in place a demanding, knowledge-based curriculum. Pupils are rising to these high expectations.

They enjoy their studies and are keen to do well. Those responsible for governance are very committed to the school and its ethos. However, they are not clear about the different roles of directors and local governors.

The local governing body does not cur...rently have sufficient expertise to carry out some of its delegated functions. Behaviour has improved significantly over the past 18 months. Pupils are well behaved and have excellent attitudes to learning.

The school is calm and orderly throughout the day. Most pupils attend school very regularly. However, a minority do not.

Consequently, overall attendance is below the national average for secondary schools. Teaching is good in almost all subjects. Teachers use their strong subject knowledge to provide high-quality explanations.

Pupils appreciate their teachers' expertise. Relationships are strong across the school. Pupils like and trust their teachers and other adults.

Consequently, pupils are happy to ask questions, offer answers in class and attempt challenging work. Some teaching remains less effective. Occasionally, activities are too easy or too hard for pupils.

Some teachers do not check pupils' understanding in lessons as well as they should. Pupils make good progress in almost all subjects. Where achievement has been weaker in recent years, for example in mathematics, considerable improvement is now evident.

However, pupils' progress remains weaker in history and in vocational subjects. Students enjoy and value the sixth form. They take part in a wide range of activities which supplement their studies effectively.

Most students take academic subjects and they achieve well. However, the small number of students who take vocational subjects do not make as good progress.

Information about this school

This is larger than the average-sized secondary school.

It converted to become an academy in April 2015. It is part of the Lumen Christi Catholic Multi-Academy Company (MAC), along with five local Catholic primary schools. According to its scheme of delegation, Lumen Christi Catholic MAC's board of directors has responsibility for the school's ethos, values and strategic direction and providing support and challenge to the principal.

The school's local governing body has responsibility for day-to-day matters, including standards, teaching and the curriculum. The current principal took up his post in September 2018, having been head of school for the previous 12 months. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is well above average.

An average proportion of pupils speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils with SEND is broadly average. A small number of pupils attend alterative provision at the James Brindley Academy, the City of Birmingham School, the Aston Villa Foundation and Bournville College.