The Becket School

Inspection of The Becket School The Becket Way, Wilford Lane, West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire NG2 7QY

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Inspection dates: 21 and 22 September 2022

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Sixth-form provision Outstanding Previous inspection grade Good 21 and 22 September 2022

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils and students in the sixth form speak with pride about attending The Becket School. They know that their teachers have extremely high expectations. There is a determination to make sure that pupils become the best version of themselves.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils appreciate the distinctive Catholic ethos of the school. They said that they feel part of a strong, caring family that helps them to ‘grow as people’. Most pupils trust that bullying will be dealt with effectively.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The ‘Becket way’ promotes positive pupil behaviour. It outlines the qualities and the values expected. The school is orderly and calm. Pupils are courteous. They are rewarded and encouraged to ‘work hard, be loving and do the right thing’.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The extra-curricular offer to pupils is extensive. There are many opportunities to play sport, debate, volunteer and to be enterprising. Lunchtime is vibrant. Pupils create music, play games, involve themselves in the arts and generally have the chance to develop interests and talents.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Acts of charity and fundraising are customary. Leaders work hard to enrich and deepen pupils’ experience of the world and their sense of compassion and responsibility. The pupils’ ‘build hope’ work with a school in Ghana is impressive.

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better?

The ambitious curriculum is based on research. It is underpinned by the core values of ‘powerful knowledge, enrichment and spiritual development’. Leaders have thought carefully about the knowledge that pupils need and the order that it needs to be learned. Recap opportunities ensure that pupils remember more. Pupils achieve well in their external examinations at the end of Years 11 and 13.

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better?

Although ambitious, the curriculum is not adapted well enough for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). A few of these pupils do not gain the knowledge and skills that they could.

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better?

Teachers are subject specialists and are expert. They explain things clearly. They use assessment skilfully to check for gaps in pupils’ knowledge. Pupils said that they valued the lengths that their teachers go to, in order that they learned well and achieve success.

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better?

Provision for study in the sixth form is outstanding. The curriculum is rigorous. Students value their teachers’ subject knowledge and teaching skill. They appreciate the trust they are shown as young adults. They receive wide opportunities for responsibility and independence, including work experience. They make a significant contribution to the school community and work to promote equality and diversity. 21 and 22 September 2022

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Students said that they are supported to become ‘well rounded’ adults. They are excellent role models.

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Leaders promote the love of reading. ‘Becket reads’ ensures that all pupils are read to daily. They are introduced to challenging texts and books that encourage a deeper knowledge of the curriculum. The small number of pupils who are at the early stages of reading are supported to catch up. The library is a fantastic resource. It is often full of pupils grabbing every opportunity to learn and to read. Pupils said it was ‘book heaven’.

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Pupils’ personal development is promoted extremely well. There are carefully planned opportunities for pupils to develop good character. They learn about the qualities of being a responsible citizen. Through a high-quality personal, social and health education curriculum, pupils also learn how to keep themselves healthy and safe, including when online. Careers advice and guidance is productive and helpful.

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Collective worship encourages spiritual reflection. Pupils gain a deep understanding of faith and global affairs. As soon as pupils arrive in Year 7 their character education begins with a focus on kindness. This includes a residential trip for all pupils so that they can get to know each other and the values of the school. Pupils really enjoy this welcoming start to their secondary education.

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Leaders make sure that staff continually learn, conduct research and hone their practice. Staff appreciate the opportunities they receive for high-quality professional development and training. They value the chances to share their knowledge and skills with teachers from across the trust. Staff appreciate leaders’ efforts to consider their workload. They are proud to work at The Becket School.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders have established a culture of safeguarding and welfare. The designated safeguarding lead is extremely knowledgeable. She is described as a ‘champion’ for the most vulnerable pupils. The safeguarding team act promptly to make sure that pupils who need it receive high-quality support.

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Safeguarding

Staff receive regular training and updates. They know how to follow the safeguarding policy and how to refer any concerns that they may have.

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Safeguarding

Pupils are supported to develop positive mental health in the ‘Damascus centre’. They value the ‘worry button’ that is available on the school website. Pupils said that if they have a problem, they can seek advice and that everything will be done so that they get the right help. 21 and 22 September 2022

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 The curriculum is ambitious, but it is not adapted well enough in some subjects to meet the learning needs of all pupils with SEND. Leaders must make sure that the curriculum is appropriately tailored across all subjects so that pupils with SEND acquire the knowledge and skills that they should.

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How can I feed back my views?

or to find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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Further information

In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ refers to those pupils who attract government pupil premium funding: pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years and pupils in care or who left care through adoption or another formal route. 21 and 22 September 2022

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School details

Local authority Nottinghamshire County Council

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School details

Inspection number 10241636 Type of school Secondary

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School details

School category Academy special converter

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provision

Number of pupils on the school roll 1119

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sixth form

Date of previous inspection 28 March 2017, under section 8 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The school uses two registered alternative providers.  The school meets the requirements of the Baker Clause, which requires schools to provide pupils in Years 8 to 13 with information about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships.

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Information about this inspection

The inspectors carried out this graded inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. 21 and 22 September 2022

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 This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors met with senior leaders, members of the governing body, subject leaders and groups of staff. The lead inspector met with representatives of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic trust.  Inspectors undertook deep dives in English, mathematics, modern foreign languages and design and technology. As part of the deep dives, inspectors spoke with curriculum leaders to review the curriculum, visited lessons, considered pupils’ and sixth-form students’ work. They spoke to pupils, sixth-form students and teachers. They visited the library.  Inspectors held a series of meetings with leaders and pupils to discuss the school’s safeguarding arrangements. They spoke with sixth-form students. They

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scrutinised a range of records relating to safeguarding, behaviour and attendance.  Inspectors observed pupils and sixth-form students at different times of the school day, including the start and end of day and at lunchtime and breaktime. Inspectors observed pupils undertaking ‘Becket reads’ sessions. They observed collective worship.  Inspectors considered the views of staff, pupils, parents and carers through discussions during the inspection and through the Ofsted online surveys.

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Inspection team

Jayne Ashman, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Peter Monk Ofsted Inspector 21 and 22 September 2022

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regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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