A Cardiff secondary school has received a glowing report from inspectors who praised its strong support systems and engaging curriculum.
In a report published today, education inspectorate Estyn described Mary Immaculate High School as “a warm and inclusive learning community where pupils and staff feel welcome and valued”.
It described the headteacher, senior leaders, staff and governors as “passionate advocates for the school and the community it serves”.
The report praised the school’s “highly effective leadership team” and said they have “a clear understanding of the strengths and areas for improvement”. As a result, it said Mary Immaculate has sustained improvements “in many areas of its work”.
The report described headteacher Huw Powell as leading the school “with zeal and vigour, driven by moral purpose”.
It said teachers “foster a warm and positive learning environment across the school”, and said that staff, students and parents have played a role in “building an engaging curriculum in Years 7 and 8”.
Inspectors were so impressed at what they saw at Mary Immaculate, they asked the school to prepare two case studies of best practice to share with other schools – one on its approach to professional learning and another on how it reduces the impact of poverty on attainment.
Mary Immaculate headteacher Huw Powell said: “This is an extremely positive report that recognises the hard work, dedication and passion of the entire school community.
“I am especially pleased that all staff, from the senior leadership team to classroom teachers, have been praised by Estyn for their efforts.
“At Mary Immaculate, our goal is to achieve the best for all, and this report demonstrates that is exactly what we all strive to do every day.
“We are also very proud to have been invited by Estyn to prepare two case studies – something only a very few schools are asked to do.”
Mary Immaculate High School is sited in Wenvoe but is administered by Cardiff Council. It currently has 815 students on roll, many of whom come from some of the city’s most deprived areas.
Over a three-year average, 39.6% of its students were eligible for free school meals, significantly higher than the all-Wales average for secondary schools of 20.2%.
The Estyn report highlighted the work the school has done to address the challenges it faces.
It said: “Leaders’ strategic approach to reducing the impact of poverty on educational attainment is of particular note and underpins all the school’s work. There is a sensitive understanding of the considerable challenges facing the pupils and the local community.”
Estyn made three recommendations for Mary Immaculate: To improve the quality and consistency of assessment, to improve opportunities for pupils to develop their Welsh language skills, and to continue to strengthen processes for self-evaluation and improvement planning, ensuring that they focus sufficiently on the impact of the school’s work on pupils’ learning.
