Saint Gregory's Catholic College

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 8 November 2022

The 'Student Creed', written by former pupils, states that 'At St Greg's, we are a family'. Many current pupils and staff confirmed that this is, indeed, their experience of their school. Pupils are proud of their school. They say that teachers are passionate about their subjects and care about their pupils. Inspiration from the Gospel values are the 'hallmarks' of the education that pupils receive. Pupils reflect positively on their own beliefs and opinions, as well as those of others. Interactions between staff and pupils and between pupils are warm and respectful. Communal spaces are busy and vibrant. Pupils use these spaces sensibly and with due consideration for others. Pupils treat each other with respect. They say that they feel confident to challenge each other if they hear derogatory language being used. Teachers deal swiftly with any bullying issues if these occur. However, many pupils say that this is not a regular feature of their experience at the school. Leaders ensure that economic circumstances are never a barrier to pupils benefiting from the range of visits and clubs on offer. These opportunities are purposefully planned and the views of pupils are taken into consideration. Consequently, participation in the wider life of the school is strong, as seen in, for example, the retreat programme and a recent 'boys singing out loud' event for key stage 3 pupils. Pupils are encouraged to put 'faith into action' to raise money for charities.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, the curriculum is not adapted well enough to meet the needs and starting points of all pupils, particularly those with SEND. This prevents some pupils from building up their understanding successfully over time. In these subjects, leaders need to ensure that there is more explicit consideration of the essential knowledge that all pupils need to know. Leaders should also consider how well teachers' use of assessment consistently checks that this has been remembered.
• Some pupils arrive at the school without being able to read accurately and fluently. This hinders their ability to follow the full curriculum. Leaders must ensure that the planned early reading programme is implemented as intended so that pupils have the necessary foundations for their future learning.

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