From Aspiration to Achievement: St Augustine of Canterbury Achieves ‘Good in all areas’ Ofsted Rating

St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy is proud to announce its recent ‘Good in all areas’ Ofsted rating. This milestone highlights the school’s unwavering dedication to academic excellence, faith-based values, and the impact of the school improvement efforts implemented by St Joseph Catholic Multi-Academy Trust. 

The Ofsted inspection team praised the school for creating an aspirational climate where the academy’s core values are felt in every aspect of pupils’ behaviour, commenting, “Pupils are happy and proud to attend this school. They embrace the school’s values of aspiration, belief and compassion.” 

These remarks reflect the school’s focus on delivering high-quality, aspirational teaching and learning. Inspectors recognised St Augustine’s transformational journey, going from ‘Requires Improvement’ to ‘Good in all areas’, which has been powered by a robust Trust family supporting its vision and mission. 

The report recognised the school’s broad and ambitious curriculum, which helps pupils build knowledge over time, as well as its strong and effective leadership. “Trustees and members of the local governing board challenge the school appropriately to continue to raise standards,” inspectors noted. 

Pupils were also celebrated for their commitment to the school’s no-excuse culture, with Ofsted remarking that “Pupils’ self-belief in what they can achieve is rising.” 

Key highlights from the Ofsted report include: 

• “In lessons, pupils follow the school’s firmly embedded routines. They behave well. Pupils appreciate that the school’s rules allow them to learn undisrupted.” 

• “Pupils enjoy the array of sporting clubs that are on offer. The weekly darts match draws in a number of excited spectators and also helps pupils to practise their numeracy skills.” 

• “(The school|) views reading as the gateway to pupils’ success. Pupils with gaps in their reading knowledge, including those at the early stages of learning to read, receive effective support that helps them to catch up with their peers.” 

• “Teachers use effective strategies to check what pupils know. They are adept at spotting gaps in knowledge. Teachers swiftly identify and remedy misconceptions. They give pupils plenty of opportunities to repeat and recall learning.” 

Headteacher Mrs. G. Lynch said, “Being part of the SJCMAT family has been instrumental in our success. It has provided the robust support and shared vision needed to create a school where pupils succeed.” 

This significant achievement reflects the collective efforts of the school community to build a nurturing, faith-led environment where every child can grow academically, socially, and spiritually. 

Join us on our journey of faith and growth. Book a visit to St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy and see firsthand how we inspire and support our pupils to reach their full potential.