Ursuline High School has achieved the Inclusive School Award with Centre of Excellence status.
Remarkable School
Ursuline High School is a remarkable school. They go to extraordinary lengths to support every member of their community. The school makes a real contribution to their community through Serviam, and they enable and encourage students to get involved, to support others and to give up their time to serve others. The Catholic ethos and values at Ursuline High School permeate every aspect of the school. This ethos is all about inclusion and this is a word that is known and understood by all stakeholders. The determined Headteacher and her team have led the school and got it to where it is now: an extraordinary school.
The school is a very large one with nearly 1,500 students on its roll. It is a popular school and is oversubscribed. The school is well organised, is orderly and students display good learning habits. They show respect for their teachers and support staff and for each other. They obviously show respect for the school building and environment and they look after it.
The senior team has ensured that clear systems are in place in every aspect of the school and nothing is left to chance. These are regularly reviewed and updated as feedback is received. The school is arranged so that every student is part of a tutor group and there is a strong year group identity. This means that despite the size of the school, the students do not get lost in the system but are well known as individuals. There is a sense of belonging and pride in being part of Ursuline High School.
The school is extremely well led and colleagues work together to ensure all the different parts of the school come together to make a whole. The Headteacher has been leading the school for many years and has left her mark on the school and the community. She is going to be greatly missed. Her contribution to Ursuline High School and the Catholic community is exceptional. She is passionate about the school and her role but has decided this is the time to leave to take on new challenges. Governors proved effective support to the Headteacher and they are also very loyal and proud to be associated with the school.
Invested Heavily in Inclusion
The Inclusion Co-ordinator who created the Inclusion Quality Mark Self-Evaluation Report document produced 114 pages outlining all the evidence and actions the school has taken to ensure it is an inclusive school. There are so many strengths, it is difficult to list them all. The pastoral care, wellbeing and mental health strategies in place are joined up and every child really does matter. No stone is left unturned when identifying student needs and finding ways to support them.
The school has invested heavily in inclusion and this alone is evidence of their commitment. Many members of staff are employed to provide additional pastoral support and they make a real difference. The support for Special Educational Needs (SEN) and vulnerable students is exceptional and all staff take responsibility for every child. At the same time, the school’s laser focus on teaching and learning has meant that students are well taught. Teachers are subject-specific experts and they know their students well. Relationships between students and staff are very strong. The staff obviously enjoy working in the school and turnover is low.
Student Voice
Student voice stands out as a real strength of the school. The Headteacher and Governors listen and more importantly, they act and there are examples outlined throughout this report to evidence that. The school has spent three years developing its work on Equality Diversity and Identity (EDI) and has had a huge focus on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for staff on equality and diversity. They have developed and updated their curriculum to reflect the needs of students and ensured that the students’ lives and identities are reflected in the school’s teaching and learning. This work has been far reaching and they have worked with various experts who have advised the senior team.
All members of staff have been coached and trained, the drive for equality, diversity and equity is ongoing and the culture of the school has been changing. The school and the leadership are to be congratulated for taking up the challenge and addressing equality and diversity so thoroughly. The outcomes are very powerful and very important for the students and everybody working in the school. The work goes on and the school is leading the way and has much to share with other schools and institutions.
Enrichment opportunities across the school are carefully planned and delivered and the students gain a lot from being involved with a range of experiences. Serviam is a big part of the school’s ethos and is about service to others and it reflects the Catholic ethos of the school. Thinking of others and supporting others are part and parcel of the school’s curriculum and is fully supported by students, staff and parents.
Parents Feel Valued
The school provides several leadership opportunities for students at all stages of their school career and the girls are keen to participate. They are generally well motivated and want to do well in school and in life. They are ambitious and know where they want to go in the future and they receive a lot of useful advice and guidance from expert staff.
Parents/carers are very supportive of the school but are not shy in coming forward if they have any concerns. They say the senior team and all staff are very approachable and want to work in partnership with them. They feel valued as parents.
Our Assessor added, “It was a great pleasure to spend time at Ursuline High School and to meet so many members of staff, Governors, parents and students. They have much to be proud of and are to be congratulated on all they have done and continue to do.”
Find out more about the IQM Inclusive School Award
If your school is interested in obtaining the IQM Inclusive School Award or you wish to talk to a member of the IQM team please telephone:
028 7127 7857 (9.00 am to 5.00 pm)
or email: [email protected] for further details.
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