Blessed George Napier Catholic School and Sixth Form

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 22 November 2022

Pupils are keen to describe what it means to be part of this thoughtful and inclusive school. Making friends, enjoying learning and showing kindness are part of everyday life. Bullying is therefore rare. Pupils are proud of how diverse their school community is and how they ensure everyone feels welcome. As one pupil commented, 'We are all BGN.' The sixth-form students act as positive role models, demonstrating their drive and determination to achieve. They know that staff have the highest expectations of them in terms of their conduct and they consistently strive to meet these. All pupils know the importance of concentrating and listening in lessons. On occasion, a small number do not always do this. Leaders are currently working with teachers to ensure that the learning in every subject helps all pupils to learn and focus well. Pupils talk positively about the support provided for their physical and mental well- being. Many pupils name physical education as their favourite subject. The opportunity to lead and officiate in different sports helps pupils build their confidence and self-esteem. They also learn how to communicate with one another. Specialist pastoral support is provided if pupils need any additional help in demonstrating the school's values of compassion and respect.

What the school should improve

• The ambitious curriculum planning in some subjects has not been as consistently well-implemented as in others. Where there is variance in teaching, pupils are less focused on learning. This means they do not always remember what they have been taught. Leaders need to continue to develop staff's pedagogical knowledge and monitor the full implementation of the curriculum to ensure that it is securely embedded in every subject.
• Not all teachers have the specialist knowledge required to successfully adapt learning to meet the needs of all pupils with SEND. These pupils, therefore, do not always get the right support to learn as well as they could. Leaders should carefully monitor the impact of the training that is currently taking place, to ensure all staff have the necessary expertise.
• The support for the small number of pupils who find reading more difficult is not precise enough. Consequently, these pupils do not have the reading skills to learn well across the full curriculum. Leaders must continue to strengthen the support for these pupils to ensure they can read confidently and fluently.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)