Saint Gabriel's College

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 17 April 2024

This is a caring school with an inclusive ethos. Leaders have created a strong community feel. The values of the 'SGC Way' underpin all aspects of school life. Pupils spoken to said, 'this school is very welcoming and open' and 'it feels like family'. They behave well during lessons and around the school site. The school acknowledges that many pupils and their families face wider challenges in everyday life. It creates a culture of aspiration, with a broad curriculum that opens pupils' eyes to the world around them. Staff want pupils to do well. The curriculum has undergone significant improvement in the last few years which is not reflected in the most recently published outcomes. Many pupils speak English as an additional language. The school is determined to support these pupils so that they can achieve well. Pupils' developing English is not seen as a barrier by the school. Instead, the school celebrates the array of languages in its community. Pupils are patient and kind to their peers, helping each other in lessons and in the wide range of clubs and activities on offer to all, for example Latin American Women's Aid, who run workshops and outings.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, the checking of pupils' understanding lacks rigour. This means that pupils' misconceptions or gaps in knowledge are missed, which limits their subject- specific development. The school should ensure that checks of pupils' learning in all subjects identify and address any misunderstandings in pupils' knowledge and skills securely.
• At times, teaching is not enabling pupils to remember long-term content which they have been taught. This limits pupils' ability to integrate new knowledge into larger subject-specific ideas. The school should ensure that teaching reviews and embeds pupils' prior learning securely.

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