All Saints Catholic School rated outstanding by Ofsted

All Saints Catholic School in South Bank which is part of the Middlesbrough academy Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust (NPCAT) has been rated outstanding by Ofsted following inspections in the Summer and again last month.

Despite the glowing report All Saints has been at the centre of industrial unrest this year with staff who are National Education Union (NEU) union members calling off a strike last month.

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In their report inspectors said: "Pupils are immensely proud to attend this caring school where everyone is accepted for who they are. Pupils care deeply for others. They exude tolerance, respect and compassion in all that they do. The school’s values of faith, love and unity underpin every aspect of school life.

"Pupils, including students in the sixth form, thrive at All Saints. Extremely positive relationships with staff support pupils to blossom academically and personally.

"Pupils value the high-quality education that the school offers, and, as a result, they behave impeccably in lessons and around the school site. Sixth-form students act as exemplary role models to others. Pupils eagerly welcome visitors and delight in opportunities to discuss their learning.

"The school has unstintingly high expectations for pupils’ achievement. Pupils benefit from a remarkably well-thought-out curriculum that prepares them extremely well for the future. Pupils, including those with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), make exceptional progress through the curriculum and achieve highly."

All Saints pupils at a recent service in York Minster (Image: Supplied) Head Sharon Keelan-Beardsley said: “Our young people are our greatest ambassadors, and they are why we, the staff, love working here.

“The comments made about the meticulously planned curriculum, unstintingly high expectations of achievement and extraordinary personal development, to name but a few of the areas that were highlighted in our report, are fantastic.

“But it is how the inspectors talked about our young people that really makes me so extremely proud.

“They were described as having incredibly mature attitudes to learning and a strong moral compass. These are the young people who will make a real difference to our society in the future, and it is a real privilege to work with them.”

Sharon Keelan-Beardsley (Image: Frank Dwyer) The school’s sixth form was highly praised, with students described as learning “with fervour”.

Chair of governors Stephanie Garthwaite said: “I am thrilled to see our commitment to excellence affirmed and look forward to continuing our partnership with staff, students and families to maintain the high standards and inspiring environment at All Saints."

When it came to what the school needs to improve inspectors said that until very recently, the trust, members of the local governing body and the school did not work together as productively as they could.

They said that the implementation of a new interim advisory board (IAB) has strengthened the relationship between the school and the trust, and they should continue to work in close partnership.

Hugh Hegarty NPCAT CEO  said: “The work to ensure a culture of vigilance and effective safeguarding will continue to provide everyone with a deep level of confidence as we continue to acknowledge the range of challenges faced in our ever-changing society.”

With about 1,421 on roll All Saints is currently on a split site with Years 7, 8 and 9 taught in buildings behind the Bar Convent in Nunnery Lane and Years 10 to 13 at Mill Mount.

The school was previously rated outstanding by Ofsted and takes pupils from across York, Malton, Pocklington, Tadcaster, Pickering and Selby.

As The Press reported last month, All Saints NEU union members were set to walk out on strike, but called a halt as 'a matter of goodwill towards the trust to give them more time to negotiate'. 

All Saints lower school site (Image: Supplied)