Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School

Inspection of Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School Colney Heath Lane, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL4 0TT

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Inspection dates: 14 and 15 November 2023

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The headteacher of this school is Declan Linnane. This school is part of Diocese of Westminster Academy Trust which means other people in the trust also have responsibility for running the school. The trust is run by the chief executive officer, Patrick Murden, and overseen by a board of trustees, chaired by Patrick Leeson. 14 and 15 November 2023

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils at Nicholas Breakspear School receive an exemplary education. They are cared for deeply by all school staff. Pupils also show high levels of mutual care and respect for one another. This positive school culture enables pupils to be and feel safe. One parent described the school as a ‘treasure’. It is a view typically shared by many.

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What is it like to attend this school?

All pupils are unwaveringly polite, kind, confident and thoughtful. They welcome visitors and share their school experiences enthusiastically. Adults constantly model the positive behaviours they want to see in the pupils. Pupils respond incredibly well to this. Lessons and social times are consistently calm. In corridors during lesson changeover, pupils enjoy talking about what they have learned.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Staff’s expectations of pupils are very high, both academically and in their everyday school life. Pupils meet these expectations, not because they have to, but because they value the teaching and support they receive.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The inspirational opportunities pupils have to achieve the school’s aim to be a ‘better person’ are extensive. These include extra-curricular activities and visits abroad, including pilgrimages to Lourdes. Individual personal development is threaded all the way through the school’s ethos.

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better?

The school’s curriculum is ambitious across all subjects. The delivery of this curriculum is consistently precise across the school and staff are aspirational for all pupils. As a result, the quality of work the pupils produce is of a high quality. The thorough way in which teachers check pupils’ knowledge enables pupils to really understand where they could improve their work. Pupils act upon this feedback immediately, so misconceptions are addressed. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported to access and thrive in lessons. Staff working with pupils with SEND are fully informed as to how best to help them succeed. The high expectations of all pupils’ learning are the same. This means all pupils, including those pupils with SEND, achieve exceptionally well.

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better?

The school considers reading to be hugely important. There is a comprehensive range of reading programmes, which ensures that the weakest readers keep up with their peers. These programmes also include regular library lessons and support from trained sixth-form reading mentors.

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better?

Pupils’ behaviour is a major strength of the school. The school is tenacious in ensuring that, on the rare occasion things go wrong, pupils are supported to understand and learn from the consequences of their actions. Pupils do this well. As a result, levels of suspension are extremely low and pupils can learn without any disturbances. Sixth-form students act as role models of confident and good- mannered individuals to younger pupils. 14 and 15 November 2023

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Pupils attend school regularly. Lateness to lessons is not something that happens. This enables pupils to engage effectively in the high-quality education provided by the school.

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The school provides a huge range of out-of-class activities to enable the pupils to grow as individuals. For example, sixth-form students describe a range of enrichment activities that frequently provide them with the opportunity to develop their character. Students also give their time to support pupils in lower school through a well-developed mentoring programme. The personal development curriculum is extraordinary. This programme extends far beyond what is required. The ‘NBS Way’ is a thread which runs through all elements of school life. Pupils have the opportunity to experience a variety of visiting speakers. They also arrange and participate in a range of highly successful charitable events. Sixth-form students are able to attend a retreat prior to their examinations. All pupils receive regular and appropriate information in relation to careers and education options.

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Strong, principled leadership has been fundamental to the school’s improvement. Governors, trustees, and school leaders are relentless in their drive to ensure that pupils receive the highest quality education. They fulfil their statutory duties well.

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The passion that the school has for ensuring pupils succeed, in all aspects of their school and wider life, is mirrored by the unstinting support they receive from parents. School staff, including those at the very beginning of their careers, are proud to work at the school and feel their well-being is taken seriously. They describe the support from leaders as second to none.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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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’ is used to mean pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND); pupils who meet the definition of children in need 14 and 15 November 2023

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of help and protection ; pupils receiving statutory local authority support from a social worker; and pupils who otherwise meet the criteria used for deciding the school’s pupil premium funding (this includes pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years, looked after children (children in local authority care) and/or children who left care through adoption or another formal route). 14 and 15 November 2023

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provision

Number of pupils on the school roll 1071

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sixth form

Dates of previous inspection 19 and 20 October 2021, under section 8 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The school is part of Diocese of Westminster Academy Trust.  The last inspection of the school’s religious character took place in March 2023.  The school does not use alternative provision.  The school meets the requirements of the provider access legislation, which requires schools to provide pupils in Years 8 to 13 with information and engagement 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. 14 and 15 November 2023

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 Inspections are a point-in-time judgement about the quality of a school’s education provision.  Inspectors discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the school and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  The inspection team met with governors and representatives of the trust, including trustees and the chief executive officer.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: English, history, mathematics, geography, science and modern foreign languages. For each deep dive, inspectors held discussions about the curriculum, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspectors: reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils; and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive

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culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.  The inspection team met with pupils from different year groups to talk about their learning and experiences at school. Inspectors also considered the 264 responses to the online questionnaire for pupils.  Inspectors reviewed a range of documents provided by the school. These included the school improvement plan, curriculum documentation and school policies.  Inspectors considered 182 responses to Ofsted’s online questionnaire for parents, Ofsted Parent View. This included 118 comments from parents and carers in the free-text facility. Inspectors also considered the 85 responses to the staff questionnaire.

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Inspection team

Jonathan Rockey, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Sharon Pritchard 14 and 15 November 2023

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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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