Setting

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T 0300 123 1231 www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Stuart Williams Principal Catmose College Huntsmans Drive Oakham LE15 6RP

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Ofsted visit to Catmose College

Following my visit with John Lawson, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 8 October 2020, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to confirm the visit’s findings. Thank you for the time you made available to discuss your actions since September 2020, when the government expected all schools to open fully to all pupils.

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Ofsted visit to Catmose College

This visit was conducted under section 8 of the Education Act 2005 (as amended) and in accordance with Ofsted’s published procedures for visiting schools while routine inspections are temporarily suspended.

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Ofsted visit to Catmose College

Ofsted’s visits to schools during the autumn term are not inspections. We are not giving graded judgements. We did not undertake the usual range of inspection activities and were unable to check other sources of evidence, such as visits to lessons or looking at pupils’ work. The content of this letter gives an overview of our discussions about what has happened in your school this term.

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Ofsted visit to Catmose College

During the visit, we spoke to you, the senior leadership team, leaders responsible for safeguarding, and the curriculum leader of humanities. We did not speak to pupils because of the protective measures in place.

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Context

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s education system is managing the return to full education for pupils, following an extended break in formal schooling due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

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Context

In undertaking this focused work, HMI are visiting a broad range of schools. HMI will visit a sample of:

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Context

 approximately 1,200 schools across all Ofsted grades (outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate)  maintained schools, academies and free schools, special schools and centres of alternative provision, including those in cities, and coastal, town or rural communities.

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Context

The information from this visit will feed into Ofsted’s national reporting so that the insights can be shared with the government and the education sector. We did not find any significant concerns during the visit. In such a case, an inspection report would be published on our website and available to parents and carers.

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Context

We did not consider your response to COVID-19 during the spring and summer terms 2020, when the school was not open to all pupils.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 You reopened the school to Year 7 pupils on 25 August 2020, and to pupils in Years 8 to 11 on 26 August 2020. All pupils are expected to attend full time.  Attendance declined initially at the start of term and then improved. It is now slightly above the attendance at this time last year.  Pupils in Years 7 to 9 are studying the same range of subjects as in March 2020. They receive more physical education lessons than previously. You have prioritised reading for Year 7 and 8 pupils.  Most Year 10 and 11 pupils are following their usual timetable of subjects. A small number of these pupils have stopped learning a subject, so that staff can give them extra help to catch up.  You have allocated more time than previously to personal, social, health and economic education. This has allowed pupils to share their experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic.  You are restarting some of the usual extra-curricular and enrichment activities

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

offered to pupils, including a variety of sports and a filmed performance of ‘Mary Poppins’.  Subject leaders have altered their curriculum plans so that any missed content will be taught by summer 2021. For example, in humanities, teachers have combined topics and incorporated virtual field trips. In English, teachers are giving pupils in Years 7 to 9 more opportunities to practise writing at length.  Teachers are checking what pupils know and remember of the curriculum. Year 7 pupils have also completed formal tests in mathematics and English. Leaders use this information to provide pupils with more support if they need it.  Pupils can access the curriculum online if they are absent from school. This online content is linked closely to daily lessons taking place in school. Teachers can teach lessons remotely if required.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

Thank you again for contributing to this important national work. The views and experiences you have shared will help to inform future policy.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

I am copying this letter to the chair of the board of trustees, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Rutland. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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