HERE is a look at every St Helens secondary school’s Ofsted status.

The education watchdog uses a four-point grading scale for inspection judgements:

These are:

Grade 1: outstanding.

Grade 2: good.

Grade 3: requires improvement.

Grade 4: inadequate.

How are St Helens schools rated?

 

Cowley

St Helens Star: Cowley SchoolCowley School (Image: Stock)

Rating: Good

The school and sixth form college last welcomed inspectors inside for a routine visit in November 2021.

The Hard Lane-based school retained its 'Good' overall rating in the report published in January last year.

Representatives from education watchdog Ofsted reported that pupils described their school as a welcoming and friendly community where ‘people smile at one another’.”

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De La Salle

St Helens Star: De la Salle head teacher Andrew RannardDe la Salle head teacher Andrew Rannard (Image: Stock)

Rating: Requires Improvement

The Catholic secondary school in Eccleston was rated requires improvement in its last full inspection in February 2020.

The school, which came out of special measures, in 2017, has been making progress under head teacher Andrew Rannard.

A monitoring report from July 2022 stated: “The school continues to require improvement. Leaders and those responsible for governance are taking effective action toward the school becoming a good school”.

St Cuthbert’s

St Helens Star: St Cuthbert'sSt Cuthbert's (Image: Google Street View)

Rating: Good

The Berry’s Lane school was found to be Good in its latest inspection, which took place in July 2022, with the findings published last September.

The outcome said: “St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School continues to be a good school”.

In the report, inspectors noted: “Pupils feel happy, safe and well cared for at St Cuthbert’s. They are polite and friendly”.

It was added “staff get to know pupils and their families well. This helps to make everyone feel welcome”.

It was added pupils “value the purposeful learning environment”.

Sutton Academy

St Helens Star: Sutton AcademySutton Academy (Image: Stock)

Rating: Good

The school has achieved its first ever 'Good' rating during its latest Ofsted inspection in June 2022.

Sutton Academy achieved 'Good' in all areas during the inspection.

The Ofsted report read: "At The Sutton Academy, pupils, and students in the sixth form, flourish.

"They benefit from a well-thought-out, ambitious curriculum that gives them the rich knowledge that they need to embark on their futures. Leaders and teachers expect pupils to succeed. They achieve well."

Rainford High

St Helens Star: Rainford HighRainford High (Image: Stock)

Rating: Good

In its last inspection, in September 2021, it was said “Rainford High Technology College continues to be a good school”.

It was said: “Leaders and staff at Rainford High Technology College have high expectations for all pupils regardless of their background. Pupils, and students in the sixth form, hear, see and feel the school’s values of ‘everyone matters, everyone helps and everyone succeeds’ in their daily lives”.

Rainhill High

St Helens Star: Rainhill HighRainhill High (Image: Google Street View)

Rating: Requires Improvement

The school received the rating after an inspection in February 2020. It was rated requires improvement on overall effectiveness.

By category it was requires improvement for the quality of education and good for behaviour, personal development, leadership and sixth-form provision.

It was stated: “Leaders have brought improvements in several areas since the school became an academy. Improvements are evident in pupils’ behaviour, personal development and the quality of education”.

It was said that, despite this, the quality of education had scope for improvement.

Hope Academy

St Helens Star: Hope AcademyHope Academy (Image: Google Street View)

Rating: Requires Improvement

The Newton-le-Willows school was rated requires improvement on overall effectiveness after an inspection in September 2021.

By category it was requires improvement for the quality of education and good for behaviour, personal development, leadership and sixth-form provision.

It was said “leaders and governors show great care for pupils at Hope Academy. Their plans and actions are consistently centred on the best interests of pupils. They do what they can to use the views of pupils, and parents and carers to help improve the school”.

It was added: “Although the quality of education that pupils receive is improving, it remains too varied”.

  • There are not ratings available for St Augustine’s School and Outwood Haydock due to their recent conversions to academies.