St Michael's Church of England High School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 September 2022

Pupils are proud to be part of this welcoming and supportive school community. They accept and value each other's differences in a school which celebrates the uniqueness of each individual. Pupils said that they enjoy coming to school because it is a happy place where they make many friends. Leaders and staff are dedicated in their commitment to ensure that pupils flourish, both personally and academically. Pupils respond positively to these high expectations. They live out the school's vision for growth in all that they do. Pupils enjoy learning and achieve well across a range of subjects. This includes those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and pupils who are disadvantaged. Pupils feel safe at school. They reported that staff deal with rare incidents of bullying swiftly and effectively. Pupils know who to speak to if they are upset or worried about anything. Staff have high standards which pupils live up to. Pupils are delightful. They behave exceptionally well both in lessons and during social times. Pupils are respectful and courteous towards each other and staff, treating others with dignity and respect. Pupils benefit from regular, well-thought-out careers information, education, advice and guidance which enable them to make informed choices about the options available to them when they leave school. Pupils are well prepared for their next steps. Almost all pupils move on to further education, training or employment, including apprenticeships. Pupils experience an exceptional, expertly designed programme of personal development. This encompasses living education, and a unique enrichment programme. Pupils participate in a wide range of activities which help to develop their confidence and resilience. They spoke with enthusiasm about the vast array of leadership, enrichment and charitable opportunities available to them.

What the school should improve

• In a minority of subjects, leaders' organisation of the curriculum hampers pupils' learning. This is because pupils do not cover the breadth of essential knowledge that they need or learn this knowledge as securely as they should. Leaders should review the organisation of the curriculums in these subjects to ensure that they support pupils to develop a rich body of knowledge.
• On occasion, in a small number of subjects, some teachers do not use assessment strategies effectively to address pupils' misunderstandings before introducing new knowledge. As a result, some pupils do not learn as well as they should. Leaders should ensure that in these subjects, teachers understand how to check that pupils' knowledge is secure before moving on to new learning.

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