Setting

Mr David Todd Headteacher St Peter's Catholic Comprehensive School St Catherine’s Road Bournemouth BH6 4AH

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Bournemouth

Following my visit to your academy on 26 November 2012, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to report on the findings of my visit. Thank you for the help you gave me and for the time you made available to discuss the actions you are taking to improve the academy since the most recent section 5 inspection.

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Bournemouth

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the academy was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in September 2012. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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Evidence

During the visit, meetings were held with the headteacher, other senior leaders, the Governing Body, students and the sponsor. The academy’s improvement action plan was evaluated. Some information regarding student attainment was looked at.

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Context

Since the section 5 inspection, there have been no significant changes to staffing or the governing body. The senior leadership team has been reorganised to place a stronger emphasis on raising achievement, improving teaching and learning and professional development by delegating responsibilities to specific people. Tribal 1-4 Portland Square Bristol BS2 8RR T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 0117 311 5373 Direct F 0117 315 0430 Direct email : jo-anne.harwood@ tribalgroup.com

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Main findings

The headteacher and the senior leadership team know the academy’s strengths and weaknesses. They accept the challenges presented by the recent section 5 inspection. A range of professional development activities are now in place which focus on improving the quality of teaching including a significant increase in the amount of classroom observations. An action plan securely addresses the areas for improvement from the previous inspection. However, specific actions for improvement are not always linked to measurable outcomes. Also, the plan does not identify the people, methods and timescales required to check how effective the proposed actions have been. Senior leaders are gathering more accurate and detailed information regarding the achievement of different groups of students because they are becoming more systematic and rigorous in their observations of lessons and analysis of students’ achievement information. This has enabled them to

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Main findings

identify more quickly those students who require additional support to reach their targets. The governing body is receiving external support and plans are in the early stages of development for a review of governance. However, there is insufficient information in the improvement plan to specify what actions are going to be taken by governors to check the academy’s progress.

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Main findings

Senior leaders and governors have begun to take effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the recent section 5 inspection. Following the visit to the school, HMI recommend that further action is taken to:

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Main findings

 provide more detail about who, when and how progress will be monitored and evaluated in the improvement plan  produce a set of actions outlining the governing body’s work in how it will hold the academy to account in a more systematic and rigorous manner

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Main findings

Ofsted will continue to monitor the school until its next section 5 inspection.

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External support

The academy is beginning to work with the Portsmouth Diocese, local authority and National College of School Leadership in carrying out a review of governance. The Diocese has put the academy in touch with a local outstanding school to provide practical advice and guidance. Consequently, there are early signs that the range of support is beginning to have a positive impact on improving the academy.

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External support

I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body and the Diocese of Portsmouth and as below.

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