In October 2023, our school was assessed under the revised Ofsted framework and we were awarded a Good rating with Outstanding features. This is a significant achievement, considering the changes in evaluation criteria since our last inspection in June 2011. We were very pleased with their conclusions. 

The praise that they placed on the journey that children take at St Gregory’s was plentiful, with many areas to celebrate including: 

• The way our children embrace and live out our school values, believing and proving that they can make a difference and reach success in their futures 
• Passionate, skilled staff and subject leaders with fantastic pastoral support in place 
• Staff who are well-supported by a leadership team that is ambitious, determined and driven by what is best for the children 
• The inclusive nature of the school, particularly the recognition and support given to children with additional needs. 

The school was judged to be Outstanding for Personal Development – an area that the inspection team agreed was exemplary. It was wonderful that the inspection team recognised our strength in nurturing not just academic success but also personal growth and character development at St Gregory’s. 
The Quality of Education judgement was given as Good due to a small minority of children not reading daily and this not being recorded in their planners. There is also an ongoing journey with a couple of our subjects where the knowledge required is being broken down into smaller bite-sized chunks; this work is well underway but takes time to embed. 

The inspection team recognised that we have already correctly identified what we need to do in these subjects and that this is already having an impact. As a direct result of these areas for improvement, leadership and management could not be judged as Outstanding and so has been graded as Good. 

Some points taken from our OFSTED Report Oct 2023

What is it like to attend this school?

• The Catholic School of St Gregory the Great is an inclusive school. Pupils get the care and support they need to overcome challenges and ‘dream big’ for the future.
• Staff know each pupil extremely well, because time is invested in forming positive and respectful relationships.
• Pupils demonstrate the motivation to work hard
• Pupils’ behaviour is positive
• Pupils value the diverse range of opportunities the school offers

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

• The school is ambitious for pupils to receive a high-quality education
• A carefully constructed and ambitious curriculum is in place. 
• Teachers have thought about how they develop pupils’ knowledge and skills over time.
• The school has the aspiration that every pupil will become a fluent reader. 
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive high-quality provision.  The school identifies pupils’ needs quickly
• Pupils’ wider personal development is exceptional.
• Pupils go out of their way to look after each other and speak up against injustice. 
• Pupils live up to the school’s motto of ‘believe and achieve’
• Pupils have a wealth of additional activities available to them. 
• Parents and carers are thrilled with the school.

To read our full report please click on the pdf below.