Brownedge St Mary's Catholic High School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 13 May 2025

Pupils and their parents and carers describe Brownedge St Mary's as a school with a 'family feel' where everyone is valued. Relationships between pupils and staff are built on genuine warmth and respect. Pupils are polite and respectful to each other and well cared for by staff. This helps them to feel safe. Pupils are united in their praise for the school's inclusive ethos. One pupil reflected the views of many, saying, 'You don't have to be afraid to be yourself here.' Pupils understand that the school is determined for them to succeed. They typically strive to meet the school's high expectations of their behaviour and achievement. Pupils, especially those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well and typically move on to ambitious next steps in further education. The school's extensive programme of extra-curricular activities is noteworthy. The school ensures that these are accessible to all. Pupils 'let their light shine' through sports, performing arts and opportunities to engage with charity work and social justice campaigns. Pupils rightly value the experiences and personal development that they get from these activities.

What the school should improve

• At times, some of the school's assessment strategies are not as effective as they could be. This sometimes means teachers do not know whether pupils have secured the knowledge that they need before moving on to new learning. As a result, there are occasions when some gaps in pupils' learning persist. The school should strengthen staff expertise in identifying and remedying pupils' misconceptions before they become embedded.

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