St Gabriel's CofE Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 7 February 2023

Pupils do really well in their education at St Gabriel's. They enjoy their lessons. Trustees, governors, school leaders and the whole staff team have high expectations for pupils. To fulfil these expectations, pupils work hard. They try their hardest in lessons. Pupils behave well in lessons. Teachers and pupils alike understand the system used for managing behaviour. They agree the system works well. Older and younger pupils play nicely together on the playground. Pupils are polite and respectful around school. Staff deal well with occasional incidents of bullying. Pupils learn about how to keep themselves safe in lessons. Leaders see educating pupils to stay safe online as very important. Pupils feel safe in school. They appreciate the work staff do to help them stay safe. School staff run the 'Angels' breakfast and after-school clubs. Leaders provide a wide range of extra opportunities for pupils. When attending Angels, pupils meet with and enjoy the company of their friends. Many clubs are available for pupils to attend in school. There are also opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. These include visits to places of interest, such as the National Space Centre. Pupils enjoyed participating in the Young Voices choir event held recently in Birmingham.

What the school should improve

• In a few subjects, teachers do not check what key knowledge pupils have remembered well enough. This means that they do not spot and address gaps in pupils' learning. Leaders should ensure that all teachers carefully check what pupils know and address any gaps in their learning.
• Leaders have not communicated well enough with parents, including in how behaviour is managed and how pupils with SEND are supported. Leaders should share more explicitly with parents how their approach to managing behaviour is rooted in the school values and how they support pupils with SEND.

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