A CHESTER secondary school has received the thumbs-up from inspectors.

With Ofsted school inspections beginning to return following the Covid pandemic, inspectors paid a visit to The Catholic High School on November 30 and December 1, 2021.

Their report, published this month, has concluded that Catholic High, which has 843 pupils – 156 of whom are at the sixth form – "continues to be a good school".

Inspectors noted: "Pupils, including students in the sixth form, at The Catholic High School, Chester achieve well. They enjoy school.

"Relationships between pupils and teachers are strong and based on mutual respect. Pupils value the sense of community within the school.

"Following the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders have strengthened the personal development curriculum to address pupils’ social and emotional needs.

"Leaders have reintroduced extra-curricular activities so that pupils and students can develop their talents and interests. Pupils, and students in the sixth form, told inspectors that they are excited to be going on trips and tours once again."

Identifying the school's strengths, inspectors said: "Leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum that allows pupils to study an appropriate range of subjects. Leaders are working innovatively to increase the proportion of pupils who study the English Baccalaureate suite of subjects, including a modern foreign language.

"Leaders and teachers quickly identify pupils who struggle to read fluently and with understanding. They provide these pupils with extra support so that they can catch up quickly with their reading knowledge. This is helping these pupils to access the wider curriculum.

"Across the school, most pupils enjoy reading. The refurbished library is increasingly popular.

"Pupils benefit from an increasing number of enrichment activities. These include debating club, sports, drama and music activities.

"Sixth-form students are excited about their planned European music tour of Italy. It is leaders’ aim that all pupils will learn new skills and find something that is their passion.

"Pupils are typically well mannered, polite and courteous. They are attentive and well behaved in class and during social times. Pupils told inspectors that they can learn without disruption.

"In the sixth form, students learn particularly well."

Identifying what could be improved at the school, inspectors said: "In a small number of subjects across Years 7 to 11, leaders have not planned the curriculum as well. In these subjects, leaders have not identified the essential knowledge that pupils should gain or the order in which it should be taught.

"This means that some pupils do not develop the rich body of subject knowledge that they should.

"Leaders’ early identification of the needs of pupils with SEND means that they receive effective support from Year 7. However, a small number of pupils with SEND are not learning as well as they should. This is because some teachers do not use the information that they have to support these pupils to access the curriculum effectively enough."

Suggesting what needs to be done to rectify these issues, inspectors said: " Leaders should ensure that the curriculums in these remaining subject areas are well planned and organised so that pupils can learn effectively.

"Leaders should check that all teachers understand how to use the information that they receive to better support pupils with SEND with their learning."

As the school received a 'Good' rating on its last inspection in March 2016, the school will not be officially graded this time round, but inspectors concluded it continues to be 'a good school'.