London school where pupils receive own birthday messages and teach sports

A secondary school in Maida Vale has been commended by Ofsted after impressing inspectors with their approach to learning and pupil encouragement. A late-January visit from the education authority found St George's Catholic School, on Lanark Road, was excelling in all areas.

The published report notes pupils are thriving thanks to a 'highly ambitious' and 'rich' curriculum where they are challenged but well supported. For example, Year 7 and 8s are set difficult texts in English to better prepare them for their GCSE exams.

There are also plenty of opportunities to enrich their skillset, such as completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award, supporting younger pupils with their reading or becoming a sports coach.

There is also lots of emphasis placed on personal development, with young people often taken to visit universities and encouraged to discuss their future aspirations.

The visit also found staff elicit highly respectful and courteous relationships with pupils. Inspectors felt pupils were very comfortable sharing problems and knew how to stay safe in both school and their personal lives.

They also noted that pupils were very inclusive and kind to their peers. The environment was described as one that fosters a strong sense of care and community, particularly as young people receive a personalised message on their birthday.

The school was previously maintained by Westminster City Council and has retained its outstanding rating since 2014. It is also part of the Cardinal Hume Academies Trust, meaning a board of trustees is responsible day-today alongside headteacher Cathal Gregory.

The report found management was also very strong. It reads: "Trustees and governors know their school extremely well. They are rightly deeply proud of its inclusive ethos and the strong outcomes pupils achieve. They have high expectations of leaders but are also effective in ensuring that staff have an appropriate work-life balance."

As of September 2024, Ofsted no longer issues state schools with an overall grade such as Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. They instead receive a rating in four sub-categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

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