St John's Catholic Comprehensive

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 7 January 2025

Pupils flourish in this inclusive school because staff provide high-quality care. A harmonious sense of purpose and calm permeates the school. Pupils know exactly what staff expect of them. Staff are consistently clear with their high expectations. Important values such as 'excellence for all' and 'service to others' underpin the ambitious culture in place. Pupils are extremely courteous and respectful. They contribute positively to the school community to ensure everyone feels safe and welcome. A broad and ambitious curriculum prepares pupils well for life. Pupils achieve well, with many securing the qualifications they need for further study and employment. Pupils and sixth-form students speak very highly of the wide range of qualifications the school offers them. Pupils learn well because teachers have expert knowledge of the courses that they teach. Many pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), successfully go into further education or enter aspirational apprenticeships. The school prioritises pupils' wider development. Extensive support and a responsively designed education help pupils manage their mental health. Pupils are respectful of differences. Celebrations such as 'cultural day' enable pupils to demonstrate pride in their own identity, whilst educating them about other cultures.

What the school should improve

• In some instances, teachers do not check pupils' understanding before moving on to new learning. When this is the case, misconceptions and gaps in pupils' knowledge are potentially not addressed, limiting how well pupils learn. The school should ensure that all teachers consistently identify and address gaps in pupils' understanding to enable all pupils to achieve as well as they can.
• In a small number of subjects, there is variability in how effectively teachers design learning to help pupils make connections between linked ideas and concepts. As a result, in some subjects, pupils do not apply what they know in increasingly complex ways, which means that they do not achieve as highly as they could. The school should support teachers to design learning that enables pupils to achieve the ambitious aims of the curriculum in all subjects.

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