OFSTED HIGHLIGHTS – MARCH 2009

1. English Martyrs is a GOOD school with many OUTSTANDING features.

2. Strong Christian values run through the whole school community. 

3. Community cohesion is OUTSTANDING

4. Students say that they feel safe, supported and encouraged to achieve their potential at all times, both in and out of class

5. The school’s specialism in the arts pervades the whole school in a very positive way.  It is reflected in the vibrant learning environment for the students.

6. Students achieve well and make good progress because the teaching and learning are good.  As a result students develop very positive attitudes and good behaviour.

7. Students personal development and well-being are OUTSTANDING.  Students speak very positively about the school.

8. Students behave well both in and out of lessons.  They treat each other with care and respect and thrive in the culturally and spiritually rich environment of the school.  Relationships are warm and respect between adults and students is palpable.

9. The school places a strong emphasis on the importance of individual students and provides excellent support and care for all.

10. Students know how well they are doing and staff track their progress and take action if they fall behind with their work.

11. The headteacher gives a strong clear direction to the staff, ably supported by his senior leadership team, middle managers and governing body. 

12. The school knows itself well and has a good capacity to improve

13. Students develop a deep spiritual awareness.  Students say that this, together with a shared set of social and moral values, contributes significantly towards their strong sense of community.

14.  Students clearly enjoy school and the opportunities it offers.  They are keen to learn and there are high levels of concentration and participation in lessons.  Teachers are confident in their subjects and explain key points clearly

15. Students’ contribution to both the school and wider communities is EXCELLENT.

16. The school has won recognition for its EXCELLENT enterprise education curriculum which    all students follow.

17. The school has successfully placed a strong emphasis on raising the quality of learning in all lessons through better use of assessment data to match students’ work to their prior attainment.  This initiative has been supported by high quality training opportunities for teachers and support staff.

18. Students are challenged to higher levels of thinking and creativity through good pace and skilled questioning. Positive attitudes and high standards of behaviour create a good atmosphere for learning.

19. Specialist arts college status makes a very strong contribution to the good quality curriculum.  The uptake in arts subjects is excellent, and the arts specialism has had a significant influence on many aspects of the curriculum.

20.  Changes to the curriculum for Personal Social Health Education are popular with students and are contributing significantly to students’ OUTSTANDING personal development.  An EXCEPTIONAL feature which contributes to students’ preparation for the future is the extended curriculum.  Students take part in a very wide range of visits, including trips to galleries and theatres, as well as journeys to Europe and beyond.

21.  Transition at all stages, managed by the pastoral support staff is good.

22. Careers guidance is timely and thorough and students describe this as a strength of the school.

23. The headteacher is committed to promoting not only the students’ academic but also their personal development.  An OUTSTANDING contribution is made to community cohesion.

24. A well planned cycle of self-evaluation ensures that senior and middle teachers know how well the school is doing and what the key priorities are for further development.  Good systems result in challenging targets for improvement at school, subject and class levels.  Middle leaders, supported by senior colleagues, demonstrate a sound ability to monitor, review and plan action.  Senior leaders put in well targeted support to develop their middle leaders and hold them to account for their performance.

25. The good partnership between the school and governing body ensures that governors are well informed and have a clear picture of strengths.  They are increasingly involved in strategic planning to bring about further improvements; challenging where appropriate.  The school gives good value for money.

English Martyrs Sixth Form College

1.   There is an OUTSTANDING sixth form where students flourish in a supportive and friendly atmosphere.  Very good relationships and a real sense of community and support within the sixth form are key features in its success.

2.   A combination of OUTSTANDING teaching and learning and excellent student-teacher relations ensure that students make OUTSTANDING progress and reach high standards that place the sixth form in the top 5% nationally.

3.   The personal development of students is EXCELLENT.  The students are mature, thoughtful, confident and well rounded young adults.

4.   Teaching and learning are OUTSTANDING as is the quality of care, guidance and support.

5.   Leadership and management are EXCELLENT.  High standards are sought.  When standards fall in any subject the staff are quick to carry out a thorough investigation which results in an effective action plan.

jh/mjn 21.04.09

 Press Statement

 INSPECTION SUCCESS

As a Catholic School The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College has undergone TWO Inspections.  The Section 5 (Ofsted) Inspection described the school as “a GOOD school with many OUTSTANDING features.”  Personal development and well-being was classed as OUTSTANDING as was the school’s contribution to community cohesion.  Headteacher, Joseph Hughes, said “We are particularly pleased that the Ofsted Inspectors recognised and acknowledged the strong Christian values which run through the school.  They described English Martyrs as a school where students develop a deep spiritual awareness.”

Brian Readman, Chairman of Governors, was delighted that The English Martyrs Sixth Form College was graded as OUTSTANDING in all categories.  He stated “The Governors are pleased that the report accurately describes us as a sixth form where students flourish in a supportive and friendly atmosphere.”

The second inspection at the school was a Section 48 Diocesan Inspection.  The team judged the overall effectiveness of the school as OUTSTANDING.  In particular they picked out the high level of attainment and achievement in Religious Education, the quality of collective worship, parish links, and the school’s contribution to community cohesion and racial harmony as OUTSTANDING.

Headteacher, Joseph Hughes, said “The two reports have successfully encapsulated the unique ethos of the school and have accurately delineated  the factors which make English Martyrs a very special community.  The inspection findings are a tribute to the way in which students, staff, parents and governors work effectively together to create a school of which we are justifiably proud.”

jh/mjn 16.06.09

DENOMINATIONAL INSPECTION

REPORT (Section 48)

The Overall Effectiveness of the School was judged as OUTSTANDING.

a. English Martyrs is a vibrant Catholic community where staff and students live out ‘The Gospel’ values.  Students enjoy the opportunities to participate in the Catholic life of the school and view these in a positive way in relation to the development of the whole person.

b. Students recognise that the Headteacher and senior leaders have high expectations for them to reach their full potential.  These expectations are supported by strong systems both academic and pastoral focused on raising achievement at every level.  There has been sustained improvement in the provision for Catholic Education since the last inspection due to strong leadership and the commitment of staff in the Religious Education department

c. English Martyrs has established an excellent standing and is a beacon within the community it serves.  The school strives to improve year on year and leaders and managers take pride in its high level of achievement.

d. The staff are enthusiastic about the school as a Catholic community and are keen to ensure that the valuable contribution it makes to the life of those within it continues.  The leadership structures within the school are well placed to ensure that the school’s capacity to improve will be sustained. 

e. There is a high level of attainment and achievement in the subject and standards in many areas are OUTSTANDING.  Students who follow ‘A’ level courses display OUSTANDING levels of achievement.  At Key Stage Four there is a good 3 year upward trend in outcomes for students and the gap between boys and girls has reduced significantly.

f. English Martyrs School is an inclusive community.

g. The wealth of charity and social events led by the students is an acknowledgement of their willingness to serve.  There is a culture of respect and care which pervades all aspects of school life.

h. The chaplaincy provision enhances the spiritual lives of students and they speak very highly of the Chaplain and the positive impact her work has on them.  The variety of acts of worship offered ensures that the majority of students are engaged in a meaningful way in the spiritual life of the school. They respond enthusiastically and with respect towards prayer and worship and view this as central to school life.

i. The Sixth Form Moral, Ethical and Theological programme provides a stimulating and relevant course which is appreciated by students.  The AS and A2 RE courses are expertly delivered and the intellectual content engages and challenges students.  In Key Stage Four students access a range of courses and enjoy high levels of success.  Students enjoy a range of learning activities and respond well to the rigorously planned lessons, creative delivery, highly developed subject knowledge of their teachers and the imaginative use of ICT.  Students show a keenness to learn, they engage enthusiastically in lessons and achieve well.

j. The quality of collective worship provided by the school is OUSTANDING.  Assemblies and prayer groups are jointly planned by students and staff and reflect a deep understanding of the Church’s mission.  The local clergy and the school mission team work with students and staff to ensure a vibrant, varied and relevant programme of worship.

k. The Headteacher and senior leaders are successfully building a community which “lives its faith”  The Catholic life of the school is promoted by example and Gospel values are transmitted throughout the community.  The spiritual development of staff and students is a priority.  Opportunities to express and grow in faith are promoted.

l. Self-evaluation is a central part of the academic culture of The English Martyrs School. The Religious Education department reflects the practice of the whole school and carefully evaluates the quality of teaching and learning, student well-being and progress.  Students speak very highly of the commitment of the staff in the department who they say are approachable and offer high levels of support where necessary.

m. There is a good partnership between the school and the governing body and good working relationships with senior leaders.

n. The Headteacher and senior leaders of the school have developed effective links and partnerships outside of the school community which have promoted Catholic learning and student well-being.  The links with parishes through the Pastoral Area Youth Co-ordinator are OUSTANDING.  There is also a clear link between the school and its Feeder Primary Schools; this is a key strength and one which supports transition.  Partnerships with the Youth Mission Team have enhanced the faith life of students and the impact of the recent Mission is clear.

o. The emphasis on the four strands of Community Cohesion provides a clear pathway for OUTSTANDING developments in this area.  A recent survey demonstrated that students regard the promotion of racial harmony as OUTSTANDING.  Students from different ethnic backgrounds have been successfully incorporated into the school enabling the further development of an attitude of respect for all.

jh/mjn  15.06.09