St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 19 May 2026

This school makes a positive difference to pupils' lives. Staff care about the pupils' education, model a love of learning and highlight kindness to pupils. Pupils are respectful, kind, and wear their school uniform with pride. Joining the school means becoming part of the St Bede's and St Joseph's family. This connection lasts a lifetime for many pupils. Current and past pupils of the school receive a warm welcome. Staff have high expectations, which pupils rise to. Leaders have developed a climate for learning in which pupils can excel in their studies. All pupils take part in activities. These include visits to the theatre, educational outing, and extra curricular clubs. These opportunities nurture pupils' confidence. The school promotes tolerance and respect. These values are part of the curriculum. Behaviour in school is positive, and instances of bullying are rare. Should bullying occur, staff are quick to act. The pastoral system surrounds each child, offering support to maintain well-being. Pupils feel safe and have adults in school who they can turn to if they have worries. The school celebrates pupils' academic success. Pupils know how they are doing academically and have a clear understand of their educational options for the future. Sixth-form students love their study spaces. The courses on offer in the sixth form are wide and varied. This ensures that all students are able to study what they wish. The school provides leadership opportunities across year groups. This promotes a sense of community and responsibility among students. Students in the sixth form take an active role in mentoring their younger peers. A well-structured careers guidance programme is in place. It gives pupils key details about the job market and future study choices. This balanced approach gets pupils ready for life after school.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should continue to work closely with families, carers, and outside agencies to continue to improve and sustain pupils attendance.
• Leaders should continue to ensure that the school’s expectations for what every lesson should include are deeply embedded in all subjects so that effective teaching is consistent across the school and leads to high outcome for all pupils in national assessments over time.

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