A secondary school in south Bristol where pupils “feel welcome and included” was praised by Ofsted after it was found to have maintained ‘Good’ standards. St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School, on Fossedale Avenue in Whitchurch, was inspected on January 7 and 8 by inspectors after being rated as ‘Good’ in 2018.
The secondary school has 755 pupils aged between 11 and 16 on its school roll. During the ungraded inspection, Ofsted found that the school makes pupils feel ‘valued, regardless of their faith, culture or background’.
Pupils told inspectors that they feel safe at the school and know their trusted adults will help them if they have any concerns. Pupils receive helpful guidance about careers and further education, gaining an insight into the world of work through careers events, meaning pupils are well prepared for their next steps.
The report said: “Pupils behave well and strive to meet the high expectations the school has of their conduct. The rewards that pupils receive for good conduct help them to develop positive character attributes. Many wear the badges they are awarded by the school with great pride.
“The school has high expectations of pupils’ achievement. Pupils are expected to contribute in lessons and to the wider life of the school. The school provides a wealth of opportunities to take part in trips, visits and public speaking competitions, pupils develop confidence and resilience through taking part in these opportunities.”
The curriculum was described as ‘broad and ambitious’ for all pupils. It helps pupils to make links between new knowledge and previously learned content.
Teachers have the knowledge and skills to support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). But sometimes, teaching activities are not well matched to what pupils know and when this is the case, it limits what some pupils can achieve.
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Checks on pupils’ learning are effective in identifying gaps in knowledge or challenges accessing the curriculum and teachers make adjustments when needed. Staff follow school systems for managing behaviour which means that it is rare for learning to be interrupted.
Ispectors sdaid pupils know the importance of healthy eating and exercise through the school’s personal development programme. Pupils learn about different faiths and cultures and are able to show tolerance and respect in the way they treat each other.
The report said: “The school knows its own strengths and the areas that it still needs to improve. For instance, it understands the barriers that some pupils have to attending school well and the school has taken effective action to remove these. As a result, more pupils are now attending school more regularly, however, too many pupils are still absent too often.
“Leaders ensure that they consider the impact of changes they make on staff workload. They provide the training and support that staff need in order to have the expertise they need to fulfil their roles.
“Governors and the diocese work together well to ensure that they have an accurate picture of the school. They provide both challenge and support, ensuring that all actions taken are well aligned to the shared vision for the school.”