St Mary’s Catholic High School in Leyland, Lancashire, has been recognized as a good school following its inspection on January 21-22, 2020. Pupils express a strong sense of belonging and safety within the school environment, highlighting the supportive nature of the staff who are attentive to their needs. The school fosters a culture where bullying is rare, and incidents are addressed promptly, contributing to a calm atmosphere in corridors and social spaces. Pupils feel confident that any behavioral issues will be managed effectively by the staff, which enhances their learning experience.
The school encourages community involvement, with pupils actively participating in charitable activities. Younger students have enjoyed making tea and cakes for local residents with dementia, while members of the kindness club have engaged with elderly residents through singing and card-making. The variety of extracurricular clubs available, including sports, arts, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, is highly valued by students, providing them with opportunities to explore their interests and develop new skills.
Leadership at St Mary’s has established a caring ethos that promotes a strong desire to learn among pupils. Many students achieve well in their GCSE examinations, and improvements have been made in subjects where past performance was lacking. Subject leaders have developed key stage three curriculums that align with national standards, particularly in history, geography, computing, physical education, and Spanish. However, there are areas for improvement, particularly in English, where some pupils do not engage with a sufficiently diverse range of texts, limiting their understanding of the subject.
Teachers demonstrate strong subject knowledge and design engaging activities that help pupils retain essential information. For instance, in history, pupils revisit significant events to reinforce their learning. Assessment practices are effectively utilized to identify and address misconceptions, ensuring that pupils grasp critical concepts. While most subject leaders have organized demanding curriculums well, some have not fully considered the sequence of topics, which can hinder the building of knowledge for future learning.
The school is committed to supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), providing additional resources and adaptations to the curriculum. However, there are instances where some teachers do not effectively tailor their teaching to meet the needs of these pupils, which can impact their academic success.
Pupils exhibit good behavior in lessons and enjoy attending school, as reflected in their high attendance rates. This includes disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, who also benefit from the various opportunities available beyond the classroom. The school promotes understanding of different religions and emphasizes the importance of tolerance and respect, preparing pupils for life in modern Britain. Through the personal, social, health, and economic education curriculum, students learn about relationships and sex education, contributing to their overall development.
Staff members take pride in being part of the school community and appreciate the management's efforts to reduce their workload and support their well-being. The safeguarding measures in place are effective, ensuring that pupils are safe and well-informed about potential risks. Overall, St Mary’s Catholic High School continues to provide a supportive and enriching environment for its pupils, with clear areas identified for further development to enhance the educational experience.
