St Mary’s - An Outstanding School

Summer 2011 results! St Mary’s enjoyed another year of exceptional results in the summer 2011. 97% of students have achieved at least five A* to C grades. This is the third year in succession that the results have been in the high 90s, ranking them among the best performing in the country.

More than 60% of students have achieved five or more A* to C grades including English and Maths, which is a new record for the school and well above the predicted national average. Our ‘value-added’ academic achievement, which charts students’ progress in a school ranks us consistently over three years in the top 100 of all 3000 UK secondaries.

These record results at GCSE, follow our highest ever A-levels. We are delighted with these superb results and want to congratulate all of our students on their achievements and thank our fantastic staff for their support and dedication.

As important as our students’ academic achievement is the holistic development of our students at St Mary’s. A huge number of students have taken advantage of the exciting opportunities that we have offered them to develop their gifts and talents beyond the classroom. Please see our ‘Summer Term newsletter 2011’ in the ‘Newsletters’ section which is full of excellent articles covering a wide range of activities and events in which our students have taken part over recent months.

St Mary’s was judged as an ‘Outstanding’ school by Ofsted in May 2009. The report states, ‘Students’ achievements are outstanding, as is their personal development and well-being’ (click here to read full report).

St Mary’s also received a letter from Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, in July 2009 stating, ‘The judgement of outstanding means that St Mary’s is exceptional and significant elements of the school's work are exemplary’.

We were visited by a Diocesan Inspection team in June 2009 and were again judged as an ‘Outstanding’ School. The report states, ‘St Mary’s is an outstanding Catholic school providing an education which enables students to flourish’ and ‘Students thrive in a community where they feel accepted and empowered to discover and use their gifts and talents’ (click here to read report).

Finally, in February 2010 St Mary's was again judged as 'Outstanding' by Ofsted during an English subject inspection in February 2010. The report states, 'Students' strong involvement in learning and excellent progress results from teaching which is routinely good and often outstanding'(click here to read full report).