Head praises staff after school’s top Ofsted inspection
FARNHAM’S All Hallow’s Catholic School is celebrating its second ‘outstanding’ report following an Ofsted inspection.
A team of five education watchdog inspectors visited the Weybourne school last month, sitting in on lessons, as well as holding meetings with staff and pupils.
They concluded that progress among students was outstanding because ‘teaching has moved into a higher gear since the previous inspection’.
Teachers were praised as being ‘ extremely effective in helping students to learn and to do well in examinations’.
The report also noted that ‘fundamental to the atmosphere of the school is its excellent promotion of students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development’, which it said permeates many lessons and activities.
Headteacher Elizabeth Lutzeier was congratulated for her leadership style, with it being described as ‘steely on the outside and deeply caring underneath’.
Ofsted last conducted a full inspection of the school in 2011, which also yielded an ‘outstanding’ rating.
Mrs Lutzeier was keen to spread the praise. “When you read through the whole document you see that this report recognises the contribution everybody makes to our school community – parents, staff, students and governors.
“It even shows how we value the support we receive from the local authority and our external consultants.
“We couldn’t ask for a better reflection of the work we do.”
The sixth form at All Hallows, which represents less than 15% of the wholeschool population of 1,420 pupils, was mentioned by the inspectors as an area the school should focus on in order to improve further.
The report said senior teachers should ensure that Year 13 students make as much progress as those in Year 12.
All Hallows is made up of about 70% students who are white British, with roughly 10% of Asian heritage, of whom most are Nepalese.
A below average proportion of pupils receive support thought the pupil premium, which provides additional government funding for groups such as looked after children and those eligible for free school meals.