St Antony's Roman Catholic School, located in Urmston, Manchester, underwent its first inspection under the Education Act 2005 on June 5 and 6, 2024. The overall effectiveness of the school was rated as requiring improvement, with the quality of education also receiving the same rating. However, the areas of behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management were rated as good. The school, which is part of the Emmaus Catholic Academy Trust, has seen significant changes in leadership over the past two years, with Anthony Campbell serving as the headteacher since September 2022.
Pupils at St Antony's enjoy their time at school, benefiting from a warm and welcoming community where they feel safe and well cared for by staff. The school emphasizes high expectations for pupil behaviour, resulting in good conduct in lessons and around the school. Most pupils attend regularly and value their friendships and relationships with staff. Recently, the school has increased its ambition for pupil achievement, implementing positive changes to the quality of education. However, it is still too early to assess the full impact of these changes, and some pupils are not achieving as well as they should.
The school offers a strengthened personal development program, providing numerous extracurricular activities, including sports clubs and opportunities to participate in a school production. This initiative aims to broaden pupils' interests and talents. Despite the positive aspects, some older pupils have not fully benefited from the updated curriculum, leading to uneven learning experiences.
The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. The school has made strides in increasing the number of pupils studying the English Baccalaureate suite of subjects. Teachers generally provide clear explanations and design effective learning experiences, but there are instances where selected activities do not align with the curriculum's renewed ambition, resulting in uneven learning outcomes.
The school has improved its processes for assessing pupil learning, with teachers identifying and addressing gaps in knowledge. However, there are occasions when misconceptions are not rectified promptly, hindering some pupils' progress. The school prioritizes reading, offering support to those who struggle, and fostering a culture of reading for enjoyment through initiatives like the development of the school library.
Pupils with special educational needs are well supported, with staff equipped to adapt the curriculum delivery to meet their needs. However, in subjects where curriculum delivery is weaker, some pupils with SEND do not achieve their full potential. Behaviour across the school is generally calm and orderly, with pupils engaged and eager to learn. The school has taken steps to improve attendance rates, particularly for those with low attendance.
St Antony's prepares pupils for life in modern Britain, teaching them about healthy relationships and the importance of tolerance and respect. The personal development program includes career guidance, helping pupils make informed choices about their future. Staff support the ongoing changes within the school and appreciate the consideration given to their workload during the implementation of new initiatives.
The safeguarding arrangements at the school are effective, ensuring a safe environment for all pupils. To improve further, the school needs to ensure that all teachers deliver the revised curriculum effectively and utilize assessment strategies to identify and address gaps in knowledge promptly. Overall, while St Antony's Roman Catholic School has made progress, there are areas that require continued focus to enhance pupil achievement and learning experiences.
