Further improvements are needed at a North Liverpool school despite education inspectors praising its progress.
According to Ofsted, Notre Dame Catholic College requires improvement following a two-day inspection earlier this year. A report from the national inspection body said while there had been an upturn at the Great Homer Street school, the quality of education and sixth form provision was not good enough.
A report compiled by a five-strong team of inspectors said: “In some subjects, particularly in key stage 4 and the sixth form, leaders are not clear about the knowledge that pupils and students will learn and the order in which it should be taught. As a result, some pupils and students do not develop a deep enough body of subject knowledge.”
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The report into the school, which has more than 960 pupils aged between 11 and 18 on its books, said leaders had put in place new systems to check how well pupils were learning, but teachers “do not use these checks as leaders intend” at times. Inspectors said: “Leaders should ensure that teachers use assessment effectively to check that pupils and students have learned important knowledge in the curriculum securely before introducing new knowledge.”
The Ofsted inspectors did find that Notre Dame was “a warm, welcoming school at the heart of the community” with improvements made quickly by school leaders. The assessors added: “Governors are knowledgeable and skilled.
“They have an accurate understanding of the school’s strengths and weaknesses. They use their understanding to provide effective challenge and support for leaders.
“Staff appreciate leaders’ actions to support their workload and well-being.” Amendments were needed however in leaders clarity “about the knowledge that pupils and students will learn and the order in which it should be taught.
“As a result, some pupils and students do not develop a deep enough body of subject knowledge.” A spokesperson for Liverpool Council said: “We are pleased that Ofsted has recognised the progress that has been made at Notre Dame.
“Although the school remains rated as ‘requires improvement’ overall, the school is now rated as ‘good’ in three of five areas. This includes leadership and management which is an endorsement of the achievements of the school’s new leadership.
“Notre Dame, like all our schools, is ambitious for all its pupils and we are confident that its progress will continue in the coming school year.”
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