Holy Name Catholic Voluntary Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 24 October 2023

Pupils are proud to attend Holy Name Catholic Voluntary Academy. It is a welcoming school where everyone is treated with respect and politeness. Pupils are clear that everyone is treated equally in this school. They are enthusiastic to discuss their experiences with each other and with visitors. They especially like sharing views on their learning from the lessons that they enjoy or the clubs that they attend. Leaders have high expectations for all pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This is evident from the moment that children start school. Pupils respond to these expectations by trying their best in everything they do, in and out of the classroom. Older pupils support the younger children through a 'buddy system'. Pupils take this additional responsibility very seriously. The younger children learn important social and personal skills as a result. Pupils' behaviour is impressive. They work well in lessons and play cooperatively at social times. Everyone follows the school routines. Pupils have warm, respectful relationships with staff and are caring towards each other. Pupils feel safe and bullying is rare. When bullying occurs, staff deal with it swiftly. Pupils attend a wide range of clubs, including music, sports, dance and baking. In the wider community, pupils raise money for charity and contribute to supporting food banks. These experiences broaden their interests and contribute to character-building. Attendance is high because pupils love coming to school. Leaders celebrate pupils' achievements regularly with parents and carers. This fosters strong links between the school and the community.

What the school should improve

• In phonics, some pupils struggle at the earliest stages of reading to sound out and blend words correctly. This means that they do not have opportunities to build their reading fluency and confidence as quickly as they could. Leaders should ensure that there is a consistent approach to the teaching of phonics, including the support that the weakest readers receive.
• Pupils struggle to recall what they have learned about eating healthily and about the different world religions and beliefs. Pupils' knowledge of these concepts is not yet sufficiently developed at an age-appropriate level. Consequently, they cannot talk about them with confidence. Leaders must ensure that pupils' understanding of heathy eating and different religions is secure to fully prepare them for the next stages of their education.

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