Our Lady of Lourdes RC School in Rottingdean, Brighton, has been recognized as a good school following its inspection on March 6 and 7, 2024. The school is characterized by a warm and caring environment where pupils exhibit exceptional behavior and a strong sense of respect for one another. They support each other in managing emotions and encourage positive conduct. Pupils feel safe and valued, knowing that their concerns will be addressed by teachers. The school fosters a culture of hard work, with students striving to meet high expectations set by their educators. This is evident in subjects like mathematics, where pupils tackle challenging real-world problems, and in athletics, where they aim to improve personal bests.
The school offers a diverse range of opportunities for pupils to learn new skills and represent the school in various events. Pupils enthusiastically engage in activities such as planning and running their own businesses, as well as participating in sports competitions, where they have achieved notable success in netball and cricket. The pride they take in their accomplishments is celebrated during school assemblies.
The curriculum at Our Lady of Lourdes is broad and ambitious, with a thoughtful design that emphasizes essential knowledge and skills. The strongest areas of the curriculum are reading, mathematics, and physical education, where pupils develop a deep understanding through well-structured learning sequences. However, there are some subjects where the curriculum design is less effective, leading to gaps in pupils' learning and understanding.
Teachers are attentive to the needs of their pupils, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities. They implement high-quality adaptations to support these students, such as pre-learning key vocabulary in mathematics and providing additional adult support in English. The strong subject knowledge of teachers enables them to create engaging activities that help pupils build increasingly sophisticated skills over time. Regular checks on pupils' understanding allow teachers to address misconceptions and guide students on how to improve their work.
Reading is a priority at the school, with effective phonics instruction and prompt identification of pupils needing extra support. Older students enjoy a rich selection of quality texts that complement their learning across subjects, fostering a love for reading and discussion about literature.
Pupils demonstrate excellent attitudes towards learning, showing high levels of concentration and engagement during lessons. The school environment is calm and orderly, with clear routines that pupils follow. Attendance and punctuality are monitored closely, and while strategies are in place to improve attendance, they have not yet proven effective for all students.
The school promotes understanding of various religions and cultures, encouraging discussions on equality and diversity. Pupils take on responsibilities, organizing activities and fundraising events, and the school prioritizes mental health support through initiatives like yoga sessions.
Staff feel valued and supported by school leaders, benefiting from regular training and resources to manage their workload. Governors are knowledgeable and actively engage with the school community to ensure accountability.
The safeguarding arrangements at Our Lady of Lourdes are effective, ensuring a safe environment for all pupils. Moving forward, the school must focus on improving curriculum design in certain subjects to ensure all pupils develop the necessary skills and knowledge effectively. This inspection marks the second ungraded inspection since the school was last judged to be good in March 2010.
