Sacred Heart Catholic Voluntary Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 January 2026

Pupils enter school with smiles on their faces. They behave well and say that bullying is rare. Pupils feel safe and are confident that adults will deal with any concerns they may have. Pupils settle quickly into classes because expectations of them are high and routines well established. Pupils clearly enjoy their learning. They talk positively about what they are doing, referencing useful things they have learned before, for example how learning about a healthy diet enabled them to understand the importance of blood transporting nutrients around the body. However, a few teachers lack the subject knowledge they need to teach confidently in a few subjects. Consequently, not all pupils grasp quickly an understanding of the basics of mathematics, such as multiplication. Occasionally, staff miss opportunities to have high-quality interactions with younger pupils. However, pupils achieve well by the time they leave school. This school is relentlessly focused on removing any barriers pupils may have to their learning. This extends to supporting parents and carers in supporting their child with any challenges they may be facing. Regular English classes enable parents to support their child's learning at home. The school has established a tangible sense of unity and community. Pupils state how special it is to be part of this school. They appreciate the opportunities to do things they may not ordinarily be able to, such as trips to museums and farms. Expectations for pupils to be respectful of everyone are high. Pupils talk in detail about their responsibilities as British citizens. Most pupils are keen to attend school. A minority of pupils continue to need ongoing support to attend school as well as they should.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that all adults in the early years consistently maximise opportunities to engage children in high-quality interactions. This will enable children to develop the language and social skills they need to progress more quickly.
• The school should ensure that all teachers have the subject knowledge that they need to teach subjects across the curriculum well. For example, to teach multiplication so that more pupils achieve the multiplication check and are better equipped for their next stage of learning.
• Leaders should continue to closely analyse attendance rates and implement strategies to improve the attendance of a small proportion of pupils that continue to be persistently absent from school.

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