“Exceptional”; Christ the King’s Ofsted Report
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The Trust recently received the exceptional Ofsted Inspection Report for Christ the King Catholic Academy. Stephen Tierney, chief executive of the Blessed Edward Bamber Catholic Multi-Academy Trust, which runs the school, said: “The comments about the quality of leadership, care, standards, and all-round education are an absolute delight.”
The letter to the Academy’s Executive Headteacher, Sarah Smith, read, “The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection due to your exceptional leadership … You have high aspirations for your pupils and work rigorously and relentlessly to make sure you achieve the high standards you set for yourself and others … At the heart of all your work is your drive and determination to ensure that pupils have better life choices … Central to improving the lives of pupils is the care and support you provide to children and their families.”
The pupils described their teachers and support staff as ‘amazing’ and told the Ofsted inspector that they feel ‘happy and safe’ and ‘love coming to school’. Parents shared pupils’ positive views. The report went on to state that attendance is ‘now excellent’; classrooms are ‘exciting, attractive, and well organised’ and the children were prepared for life at secondary school by the time they leave.
St. Mary's Wins Share Of Funding To Help Improve Quality Of Teaching In Their Region
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JUSTINE GREENING UNVEILS NEW EEF / IEE RESEARCH SCHOOLS AT SOCIAL MOBILITY SUMMIT
St Mary’s Catholic Academy Blackpool is one of eleven schools to have won funding to boost the quality of teaching in their region through better use of research.
The new Research Schools – part-funded through the Government’s Opportunity Areas programme and part of a joint initiative between the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and the Institute for Effective Education (IEE) - were unveiled by the Education Secretary Justine Greening at a summit hosted by the Sutton Trust today.
St Mary’s will receive £200,000 over three years to become the focal point of evidence-based practice in Blackpool and build networks between large numbers of schools. They’ll develop a programme of support and events to get more teachers using research evidence in ways that make a difference in the classroom.
Read more: St. Mary's Wins Share Of Funding To Help Improve Quality Of Teaching In Their Region
Section 48 and OFSTED Inspection success for St Mary’s
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St Marys hosted two sets of inspectors during last half term. Inspectors from Lancaster Diocese inspected the Catholic life of the Academy and also the provision of RE. They left confirming St Mary’s
“is an outstanding Catholic Academy. Christ is at the centre of all it does and Gospel values permeate throughout. The leadership of the academy is outstanding as Directors and leaders are totally committed to the Church’s mission of high quality Catholic education for all. Staff are authentic witnesses to Gospel values and endeavour to live these out in their work with pupils, especially the most vulnerable.”
The Diocesan inspection was followed by a visit from OFSTED. They confirmed the excellent quality of education being offered at the school. It leaves the academy as the only Ofsted good rated secondary school in Blackpool; a grading it has held continuously for over a decade.
The Ofsted inspectors were impressed with: the caring ethos that pervades the school; the great pride pupils have in attending St. Mary’s and parents’ appreciation of the exceptional efforts staff go to, in supporting and teaching all students. The inspection team noted the comments of the overwhelming majority of parents; typically
‘The staff go above and beyond what is expected’ and ‘The staff clearly have the best interests of the children at heart’
A copy of the Diocesan report can be found at: http://www.st-mary.blackpool.sch.uk/images/stories/PDFs/S48-stmaryblackpool141275.pdf
OFSTED letter can be found at http://www.st-mary.blackpool.sch.uk/images/stories/PDFs/Policies/Ofsted-2017-St-Marys-Catholic-Academy---Published-Letter.pdf
Timetable for Christ the King & St. Cuthbert's Catholic Academies Appeals
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On the 16th April 2017, Blackpool & Lancashire Local Authorities will inform parents of the primary school their child has been allocated to. Not all parents will necessarily receive their first choice of school. For September 2017, the full allocation of 30 pupil places has been made at Christ the King & St. Cuthbert’s Catholic Academies. If your child has not been allocated a place at Christ the King & St. Cuthbert’s and you would like to try to secure a place for them please follow the process outlined here. We would strongly advise you not to reject the place at the school your child has been allocated until you hear the outcome of the Appeals process.