As each secondary school in St Helens is currently rated by Ofsted
The Education Inspectorate uses a four-level grading scale for inspection assessments:
These are:
Rating 1: excellent.
Rating 2: good.
Grade 3: Needs improvement.
Rating 4: insufficient.
How are schools in St Helens rated?
Cowley:
Rating: Good
The sixth-grade school and college last received inspectors for a routine visit in November 2021.
The Hard Lane-based school maintains its overall rating of Good in the report published in January last year.
Officials from Education Inspectorate Ofsted reported that students described their school as a welcoming and friendly community where ‘people smile at each other’.”
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De La Sale
Rating: Needs improvement
Eccleston Catholic Secondary School was found to need improvement when it was last fully inspected in February 2020.
The school, which emerged from Special Measures in 2017, is making progress under Headmaster Andrew Rannard.
A surveillance report from July 2022 stated: “The school still needs to be improved. Managers and those responsible for administration are taking effective measures to make the school a good school.”
St Cuthberts
Rating: Good
The Berry’s Lane school was found to be good at its last inspection which took place in July 2022, with the results published last September.
The result was: “St. Cuthbert’s Catholic High School continues to be a good school.”
In the report, the inspectors noted: “Students feel happy, safe and cared for at St. Cuthbert. They are polite and friendly.”
It added: “The staff get to know the students and their families well. That helps make everyone feel welcome.”
It added that students “appreciate the purposeful learning environment”.
Sutton Academy
Rating: Good
The school received a Good rating for the first time at its last Ofsted inspection in June 2022.
Sutton Academy received the grade “Good” in all areas during the inspection.
The Ofsted report read: ‘Pupils and sixth-formers are thriving at Sutton Academy.
“They benefit from a well-designed, ambitious curriculum that gives them the rich knowledge they need to launch their future. Leaders and teachers expect students to be successful.
Rainford High
Rating: Good
At its last inspection in September 2021, it said: “Rainford High Technology College continues to be a good school”.
It said: “Managers and staff at Rainford High Technology College have high expectations of all students, regardless of their background. High school students hear, see and feel the school’s values ”Everyone Matters, Everyone Helps and Everyone Succeeds” in their daily lives.
Rainhill High:
Rating: Needs improvement
The school received the rating following an inspection in February 2020. It was assessed as needing improvement in overall effectiveness.
Depending on the category, it was Needs improvement for quality of education and Good for behavior, personal development, leadership, and delivery of high school.
It was noted: “Leaders have made improvements in several areas since the school became an academy. Improvements are evident in student behavior, personal development and the quality of education.”
Nevertheless, the quality of education could be improved.
Hope Academy:
Rating: Needs improvement
The Newton-le-Willows school was assessed as in need of improvement after an inspection in September 2021.
Depending on the category, it was Needs improvement for quality of education and Good for behavior, personal development, leadership, and delivery of high school.
It was said, “Leaders and governors show great care for the students at Hope Academy. Their planning and actions are consistently based on the well-being of the students. They do what they can to use the views of students, parents and carers to help improve the school.”
It added: “The quality of education students receive is improving, but it remains too diverse”.
- Ratings are not available for St. Augustine’s School and Outwood Haydock due to their recent conversion into academies.
