Inspection Reports

Below are our most recent Ofsted and Diocesan inspection reports. Please click on the links to open the documents.

September 2022 Inspection Report

As you will see, our school has maintained its status as a Good school.  This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all the staff and governors, and our wonderful children and parents who are real advocates of our school. 

 Diocesan Inspection Report - May 2018

On behalf of the governing body, Mr Grove, and school staff

Dear parents,

At the beginning of May, our school was inspected by the Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham. This was a two-day inspection by two inspectors, one a retired Head Teacher, the other a current Head of a Catholic primary in Stoke-on-Trent.

Their visit was under a new and more rigorous format than had previously been required.

The inspectors met with staff, parents, governors and, most importantly of all, our children.

Their inspection concluded that Our Lady & St Werburgh’s is an Outstanding Catholic primary school.

In choosing a Catholic education for our children, we expect something distinct from other primary schools: pastoral care; ethos; charity; prayer; collective worship; a culture of vocation; and belonging to a community. On the following page, you can read some of the conclusions that the inspectors came to.

As a Catholic school, two authorities inspect us: Ofsted and our Archdiocese. Our Lady & St Werburgh’s sits on church land and so how the Archdiocese judges our performance is as important to us as what Ofsted says. These inspections are required under the law of the church (Canon Law) and recognised by the Department for Education.

Staff and governors will now go through the inspection to report to digest its conclusions and recommendations. The full report is on the school website and over the page is a selection of its comments.

James O’Hara, Chair of Governors, June 2018

School Inspection: May 2018. OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS: Outstanding

• Through the inspirational leadership of the head teacher and the dedicated support of the governing body, the school has successfully developed a comprehensive infrastructure of Catholic community with Christ at the centre.
• All staff are excellent role models. They know the pupils well and exercise a high level of pastoral care. This is a happy, welcoming and inclusive school.
• Pupils are immensely proud of their school. This is reflected in their positive attitudes, exemplary behaviour and the way they express their Catholic identity. They are excellent ambassadors for the school's values.
• Pupils are active participants in the Catholic Life and mission of the school. They are eager to engage in a variety of responsibilities around the school such as leading worship, presenting assemblies and organising initiatives for charitable fundraising activities.
• The staff are a dedicated and effective team. They are excellent role models for pupils and they demonstrate a strong commitment to the Catholic ethos of the school.
• Leaders and governors share a strong commitment to the Church's mission in education and are very successful in developing the Catholic Life of the school.
• The head teacher sets high standards for all members of the school community and inspires a staff team who confidently contribute to continuing school improvements.
• Following the re-organisation of the governing body, due to the academisation process, governors would benefit from diocesan training to support their strategic planning in this new role.
• More opportunities for pupils to use extended writing skills should be used. This will enable them to further express their reflective thoughts and response to lesson themes and objectives.
• Pupils response to Collective Worship is exemplary. They are attentive in prayer and understand the importance it has in our daily lives.
• During Mass, the pupils were attentive to the parish priest, who engaged them fully by his interactive, child centred homily.
• Governors are frequent visitors to school, they regularly share celebrations and Catholic Worship with pupils and staff.
• The school and parish held a very successful mission week, which embraced a series of whole school assemblies, class workshops and a variety of worship.
• Catholic Life and Religious Education is firmly centred on the school mission and significantly shapes pupils’ morality and spirituality.
• The parish priest visits school regularly and has established a very effective partnership with the staff and pupils. He knows the school well and provides valuable support and guidance.