Saint Pius X Catholic High School A Specialist School in Humanities

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

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Caroline Brown Headteacher Saint Pius X Catholic High School A Specialist School in Humanities Wath Wood Road Wath-upon-Dearne Rotherham South Yorkshire S63 7PQ

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Catholic High School A Specialist School in Humanities

This letter sets out the findings from the monitoring inspection that took place on Wednesday 14 May 2025, on behalf of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills. The monitoring inspection was carried out under section 8(2) of the Education Act 2005 and took place because the school meets the monitoring threshold as set out in the Monitoring Inspection Handbook .

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Catholic High School A Specialist School in Humanities

The purpose of a monitoring inspection is not to grade the school’s key and (where applicable) provision judgements, but to identify and report on the school’s progress. It is to highlight to the school and parents any improvements that school leaders have made since the school’s previous graded inspection.

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Catholic High School A Specialist School in Humanities

During the inspection, I discussed with you and other senior leaders, the chair of governors and staff the actions that have been taken to improve the school since the most recent graded inspection. We discussed the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. I also visited lessons, held meetings with staff, met with curriculum leaders spoke to pupils, met with the designated safeguarding lead and looked at relevant documentation. I have considered all this in coming to my judgement.

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Main findings

The composition of the governing body has changed since the previous inspection. A new chair and four new governors have been appointed. These additions have complemented the governing body’s skill set and its ability to hold leaders accountable.

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Main findings

The school has carried out work to develop the subject curriculums. The changes you and your team have made are the result of detailed reviews and audits that have involved staff at all levels. Common themes have been agreed upon across the school and adapted for each subject area. These themes include the development of subject-specific vocabulary and work to develop assessment processes.

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Main findings

You and your staff have faced a challenging time over the last twelve months with the passing of the much respected headteacher. The staff and community have come together to support one another at this difficult time.

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Main findings

Improvement plans have been developed and implemented since the last inspection. The plans are robust and blend qualitative and quantitative elements. You and your team are coordinating actions to address areas identified for improvement with increasing precision. Quality assurance is being used to better effect to support school improvement.

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Main findings

The school has made improvements in classroom practice a focus. The support senior leaders have provided is leading to some improvements in teachers’ pedagogical approaches. The school has enabled staff to work with other institutions, external bodies and research-based groups to improve the quality of teaching.

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Main findings

Professional development is increasingly well-structured and designed to better meet pupils’ needs. Pastoral, subject and special educational needs staff are coming together to identify pupils’ needs. The needs they identify inform professional development decisions in increasingly well-structured ways.

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Main findings

You and your team have focused on providing enriched educational experiences for pupils. The use of additional funding, such as the pupil premium grant, is being considered with greater care than before. Governors are holding leaders to account for strategic decisions more effectively.

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Main findings

Attendance continues to be a priority for the school. The introduction of rewards and clear communication lines with parents and carers, alongside wider work to raise the importance of regular attendance, is starting to contribute to improvements in pupils’ attendance at school. However, you and your team readily accept that there are cohorts of pupils whose attendance requires further attention.

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Main findings

Staff engagement in the changes that have been initiated since the last inspection is impressive. Staff and senior leaders are united in the drive to improve the school. In addition, the calm and purposeful atmosphere across the school, which has been further improved since the last inspection, allows staff to focus on the priority areas without having to deal with disruptions. The school is leveraging the experiences of other schools within the diocese and beyond to enhance its improvement efforts.

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Main findings

I am copying this letter to the chair of the board of governors, the director of education for the Diocese of Hallam, the Department for Education’s regional director and the director of children’s services for Rotherham. This letter will be published on the Ofsted reports website.

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