St Boniface's RC College

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 23 April 2025

Pupils at St Boniface's College describe their school community as a family. The warm and respectful relationships that exist between staff and pupils have provided a firm foundation for the school to make necessary improvements. Parents and carers typically describe the dedication of staff to pupils' well-being. Pupils feel safe and cared for. The vast majority of pupils meet the school's high expectations of them. They have confidence that staff will support them to overcome challenges when they arise. Pupils are overwhelmingly loyal to their school. The curriculum has undergone significant change. There is still work to do to ensure that pupils are appropriately challenged and learn effectively across curriculum areas, but there are clear signs of improvement. Lessons are calm, and more pupils are achieving well. The school takes seriously its role in helping pupils to understand their place in the world. It provides numerous opportunities for pupils to develop confidence and resilience. Many pupils talk about the trips they have been on and the positive impact these experiences have had on them. They enjoy participating in sports competitions and taking on positions of responsibility. The school ensures that pupils learn about different faiths and cultures and that diversity is celebrated. Pupils enjoy raising money for charity.

What the school should improve

• The delivery of the curriculum is not consistently strong. Sometimes, the work that pupils are given lacks purpose and ambition. This means that it does not help them know and remember more. The school should ensure that staff use the most effective pedagogical tools to ensure pupils learn effectively.
• At times, staff do not check that pupils have understood what has been taught before they introduce new content, or pupils move on to independent work. This means that some pupils' misconceptions persist, or they cannot complete the work that has been set. The school should build on the success it has had in some areas of the school to ensure that checks for pupils' understanding inform teaching, so that pupils learn well.
• The expectations of what some pupils can achieve in lessons are sometimes not high enough. This is reflected in these pupils' written work, which lacks accuracy and care. The school should ensure that staff have consistently high expectations of pupils' work in lessons, so that pupils can demonstrate their learning as intended.

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