St Benedict’s Catholic High School in Whitehaven is celebrating a positive outcome following its recent Ofsted inspection.
The school has maintained its ‘Good’ rating, with inspectors praising various aspects of the school, including the quality of teaching, student engagement, and leadership.
The inspection took place between June 3 and 4, and a letter has been sent to parents, allowing them to access the full report on the school’s website.
A Strong and Supportive Learning Environment
Ofsted commended St Benedict’s for creating a welcoming and supportive environment where pupils are “happy,” “polite,” and “well looked after.” Inspectors also recognized the “consistently strong” teaching across the school and praised teachers for their “high expectations.”
The school’s leadership was described as “ambitious” and “effective,” with an emphasis on ensuring students are well-behaved and motivated to learn.
Positive Attitudes and Engagement
The report highlighted that pupils display positive attitudes toward their learning, with many being described as “attentive, engaged, and keen to participate.”
It noted that St Benedict’s has high expectations of what pupils can achieve, and current students are successfully learning the curriculum.
This focus on achievement is evident in how well the school’s redesigned and strengthened curriculum, particularly in key stage 3, is being implemented.
Extracurricular Opportunities and Career Awareness
In addition to academic success, St Benedict’s provides a well-rounded experience for its students.
The report highlighted the school’s efforts to increase career awareness through a comprehensive programme and a range of extracurricular activities.
Students actively participate in clubs, including the school band and football club, and have access to school trips both locally and internationally, helping to nurture their talents and broaden their horizons.
Support for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
Inspectors noted that the school is quick to identify any additional needs students may have.
Teachers use their knowledge of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to adapt learning effectively, ensuring these pupils receive the support they need to succeed.
However, the report suggested that further work could be done to refine the adapted curriculums for a small number of SEND pupils, helping them achieve deeper understanding and greater academic success.
Areas for Further Development
While the report acknowledged the many strengths of St Benedict’s, it also provided valuable feedback for further development.
Inspectors recommended that teachers focus on providing activities that help students apply their knowledge and retain information over time.
This, according to the report, will help pupils remember more and build a deeper understanding of what they have learned.
Headteacher’s Response
Emma Jackson, the headteacher of St Benedict’s, expressed her pride in the positive feedback, saying, “The report highlights the many strengths of our school and reflects the dedication and hard work of our staff, pupils, and wider community.”
She also welcomed the constructive feedback and assured parents and staff that the school would continue working on areas for development to ensure it keeps growing and thriving.
