St George's Catholic School

Inspection of St George's Catholic School Lanark Road, Maida Vale, London W9 1RB

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Inspection dates: 28 and 29 January 2025

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

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The headteacher of this school is Cathal Gregory. This school is part of the Cardinal Hume Academies Trust, a multi-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, Martin Tissot, and overseen by a board of trustees, chaired by John Meadows.

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Until November 2020, the school was exempt from routine inspection because it was judged as outstanding for overall effectiveness at its previous inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. The school has not been inspected under section 5 of the Act since 12 and 13 November 2014. Since September 2024, schools have not been awarded an overall effectiveness grade. 28 and 29 January 2025

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What is it like to attend this school?

Staff at this school are passionate and highly dedicated. Pupils benefit from the strong emphasis placed on personal development as well as academic excellence. This results in them being able to talk confidently about their educational experiences and their aspirations for the future.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school has exceptionally high expectations for all pupils. These are reflected in consistently high published outcomes. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make very strong progress and play a full part in the life of the school.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Staff are skilled at eliciting highly respectful and courteous relationships with pupils. Pupils respond by being highly inclusive and kind to peers. Excellent systems ensure that pupils have detailed knowledge about who they can speak to and how to stay safe.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school provides an array of tailored extra activities to meet pupils’ interests. These include both sports and creative opportunities. For example, taking part in the very popular Duke of Edinburgh Award and going on many university visits. Pupils can take up an impressive range of leadership responsibilities, such as supporting younger pupils with their reading or being a sports coach. Pupils are very well prepared for the next stage in their education, training or employment.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school has embedded a highly ambitious and rich curriculum, including in the very successful sixth form. There is a wide range of vocational and academic courses which pupils can choose to study in Years 10 to 13. Highly effective leaders are determined that every child should succeed.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The curriculum is very well sequenced and enables pupils to build up their knowledge and skills as they progress through the school exceptionally well. For example, in English, pupils start studying challenging texts in Years 7 and 8. This prepares them to approach their GCSE texts with secure knowledge and understanding.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Teachers have extremely strong subject knowledge. The school has worked determinedly to develop a clear and consistent approach to teaching. As a result, there is a shared understanding of how pupils learn. Staff are well supported to develop professionally. This supports leaders’ continuous drive for improvement. The school has rightly focused on checks to ascertain if pupils can remember and recall their prior learning with accuracy before they apply it to new learning. In lessons, there are frequent opportunities for pupils to discuss their work. This means they are not afraid of making mistakes and demonstrate great resilience when faced with a challenge.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school makes very effective use of information to ensure pupils have the additional support they need. For example, weaker readers are identified quickly using robust testing. Appropriate interventions are put in place to help them become confident and 28 and 29 January 2025

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fluent readers. These are monitored carefully to ensure pupils are making the progress the school expects. Pupils with SEND receive the same very ambitious offer as their peers. Teachers adapt their teaching expertly to ensure that these pupils learn the curriculum extremely well.

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There is an extremely broad and well-thought-out personal development programme. This includes a wide range of tailored opportunities for pupils to develop their character and broaden their horizons. Pupils have a strong understanding of citizenship, including why democracy and tolerance are so important in society. They know how to stay safe including when online. The school fosters a strong sense of care and community. For example, every pupil receives a personalised message on their birthday. The curriculum is enriched with an exciting range of activities and visits. Pupils enjoy these activities and can see how it makes their learning relevant.

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Pupils receive precise advice and guidance when making important decisions in their educational journey. There are many, useful opportunities for pupils to encounter the world of work and receive detailed information about different careers. The quality of provision in the sixth form is exceptional.

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There is a strong, highly effective focus on pupils attending school and being punctual. As a result, attendance is high. Leaders manage any issues with absence robustly, working with external agencies when necessary to get the right support in place.

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Trustees and governors know their school extremely well. They are rightly deeply proud of its inclusive ethos and the strong outcomes pupils achieve. They have high expectations of leaders but are also effective in ensuring that staff have an appropriate work-life balance. Staff are proud to work at St George’s and have a shared commitment to achieving the best outcomes and life chances for all pupils.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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How can I feed back my views?

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. 28 and 29 January 2025

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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 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). 28 and 29 January 2025

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provision

Number of pupils on the school roll 1156

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form

Dates of previous inspection 12 and 13 November 2014

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Information about this school

 The school has a Roman Catholic religious character and is in the Archdiocese of Westminster. The school’s most recent section 48 inspection was carried out in November 2024.  The school uses one registered 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 engagement about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships.  The school runs its own breakfast club, after-school and Saturday provision for pupils. 28 and 29 January 2025

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Information about this inspection

The inspectors carried out this graded inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. During a graded inspection, we grade the school for each of our key judgements (quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development; and leadership and management) and for any relevant provision judgement (early years and/or sixth form provision). Schools receiving a graded inspection from September 2024 will not be given an overall effectiveness grade.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors met with the headteacher and senior leaders. Additionally, discussions were held with representatives from the board of trustees, and the CEO.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: English, mathematics, geography, art and design and science. For each deep dive, inspectors held discussions about the curriculum, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.  Inspectors also discussed the curriculum and visited lessons in some other subjects.  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

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Information about this inspection

the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.  Inspectors reviewed a range of documentation, including leaders’ school evaluation, information about pupils’ personal development, records for behaviour and attendance, and reports to those responsible for oversight.  Inspectors met with groups of pupils to understand their experience of the school.  Inspectors took account of survey responses from parents, pupils and staff.

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Inspection team

Susan Maguire, lead inspector His Majesty's Inspector

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Inspection team

Paul Robinson Ofsted Inspector 28 and 29 January 2025

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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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