Setting

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Mrs Jillian Turner Headteacher St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon Croftdale Road Blaydon-on-Tyne Tyne and Wear NE21 4BQ

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Urgent inspection of St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon

Following my visit with Ian Rawstorne and Chris Sergeant, His Majesty's Inspectors, to the school on 30 September 2025, I write on behalf of His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills to confirm the inspection findings. Thank you for the help you gave us and the time you took to discuss the school.

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Urgent inspection of St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon

This inspection was conducted under section 8 of the Education Act 2005 and in accordance with Ofsted's published procedures for urgent inspections. The inspection was carried out because His Majesty's Chief Inspector wished to determine the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements at the school as concerns had been raised with Ofsted.

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Urgent inspection of St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon

We do not give graded judgements on urgent inspections. However, if we find some evidence that overall standards may be declining, but where no serious concerns have been identified, then the next inspection will normally be a graded inspection, which will be carried out under section 5 of the Act and be brought forward. If we have serious concerns, we will deem the urgent inspection as a graded inspection immediately.

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Evidence

We scrutinised the single central record and other documents relating to safeguarding and child protection arrangements and met with the headteacher, members of the senior leadership team, the chair of the board of governors, the vice-chair of the board of trustees, the chief executive officer of the trust, a representative of the local authority and the LADO. We reviewed the attendance and behaviour information from the school, including the interventions to support pupils. During the inspection, we spoke to groups of pupils about their experience in school, as well as members of teaching staff and those involved in supporting the pastoral needs of pupils. We also spoke to pupils at break and lunch time to gather their views.

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Evidence

Having considered the evidence, I am of the opinion that at this time:

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Evidence

Arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Main findings

During the inspection, we discussed with you and others, in detail, the nature and culture of safeguarding in the school. You have established rigorous safeguarding systems and processes. The well-developed approach leaders take when dealing with safeguarding disclosures ensures that timely actions take place to support vulnerable pupils. There is an appropriately trained safeguarding team that meets every day to review incidents and respond as required. The pastoral systems and team, using this detailed pupil information and a clear communication strategy, ensures that support is timely and appropriate. This helps staff to be aware of pupils who are potentially at risk and ensure that staff can keep them safe.

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Main findings

You shared, and pupils echoed, the impact of the strong pastoral support available through the house and sixth form system. Pupils benefit from pastoral tutors who know them well. Within the school’s wider curriculum programme, you have ensured that pupils have regular opportunities to undertake important learning about how to keep safe. Relevant content, such as healthy relationships, is taught as part of this programme and topics are covered in age-appropriate ways. As leaders, you are taking opportunities to find out how much of this, and other learning such as what is shared through assemblies, is being understood by pupils. Pupils who may require additional support due to underlying vulnerabilities are identified and monitored carefully. Staff receive additional training to help these pupils and ensure they can report any safety concerns swiftly.

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Main findings

Pupils feel safe in school. They know who to go to if something is worrying them. Pupils have confidence in staff to deal with issues, for example in relation to bullying, and appreciate the support they received. While there are typically high standards of behaviour in school, some older pupils, particularly girls, express not feeling able to report incidents in relation to the use of sexualised language directed towards them. You and your leaders are aware that there is more work to do to regarding this. You have dealt with recent incidents comprehensively and are working with the small group of pupils involved to modify their behaviour.

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Main findings

Local governors and the trust have clear strategic oversight of the school. They support you as leaders, as well as effectively holding you to account in terms of safeguarding. This is done clearly and with appropriate checks and timely reflections. Regular updates and sharing of best practice within the half termly designated safeguarding lead meetings, support developments in leadership. Communication and reporting to the local authority designated officer (LADO) have clearly improved in the last few years. You have created an open culture in which staff can share their concerns. These are dealt with appropriately and demonstrate your focus on keeping pupils safe. From our various discussions with staff, it is clear they have a robust awareness of their safeguarding responsibilities and benefit from weekly updates provided by leaders.

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Additional support

You and your team continue to benefit from support from the trust to help keep pupils safe. This includes training for staff with key safeguarding roles, sustaining development and ongoing reflection around working practices. These are key elements are working well. The trust ensures that termly external reviews of processes are conducted, to help you ensure that relevant processes and procedures are followed throughout the school.

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Priorities for further improvement

 The school should continue to work closely with pupils, particularly older pupils, to ensure they understand the need to report any issues around use of sexualised language through the existing school systems.

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Priorities for further improvement

I am copying this letter to the chair of the board of trustees, and the chief executive officer or equivalent of the Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education trust, the director of education for the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, the Department for Education's regional director and the director of children's services for Gateshead. This letter will be published on the Ofsted reports website.

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