Stuart Bathurst Catholic High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an inadequate school Leaders' actions to address the school's weaknesses lack urgency. Outcomes have declined since the previous inspection and leaders have failed to address the areas for improvement identified at that time.

Governors have an overgenerous view of the school's effectiveness. They are unable to properly hold leaders to account because they lack sufficient educational expertise. Leaders at all levels do not evaluate their actions well.

They are not clear about which improvement strategies are working and which are not. Consequently, improvement is too slow or not evident at all. GCSE outcomes have been poor for three years.

Pupi...ls throughout the school are underachieving in several subjects, including English and science. Disadvantaged pupils underachieve in several subjects. Leaders' actions to improve their outcomes have been ineffective.

Leaders' recent changes to the curriculum have not been successful in providing well for all pupils at key stage 4. Some teaching has low expectations of the quantity and quality of work that pupils complete in lessons. Some teachers do not consistently consider pupils' abilities and needs when planning lessons.

They do not check pupils' knowledge during lessons or use questions well to deepen their understanding. The sixth form requires improvement because : students' outcomes on A-level courses are not consistently good. Leaders' checks on students' progress are not as effective as they should be.

The school has the following strengths Staff provide good support and care. Pupils feel safe in school. Most pupils behave well in lessons.

The school is calm and orderly throughout the day. Teaching is now improving, and some is strong, especially in the sixth form. Attendance is above the national average for secondary schools.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than the average-sized secondary school. Just over a half of the pupils are of minority ethnic heritage, which is well above average. Approximately a fifth of pupils speak English as an additional language, which is above average.

The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is average. The school has a higher than average proportion of disadvantaged pupils. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' progress by the end of Year 11.

A very small number of pupils attend alternative provision at Whiteheath Education Centre and Blackwater Academy. No reference is made to them in this report because : to do so would risk identifying them. The school has very recently entered into an arrangement to receive support from Lightwoods Teaching School Alliance.