Ofsted rates Nicholas Breakspear School as 'outstanding'

The St Albans school was previously rated as 'good' but has now been upgraded to 'outstanding' following an inspection in November.

The school's Ofsted report praises the "exemplary education" that its pupils receive, and a "positive school culture" at the establishment.

With inspectors speaking to over 200 pupils during their visit, students have been described as "unwaveringly polite, kind, confident and thoughtful".

A positive school culture was praised by the inspectors. (Image: Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School)

The report continues: "The school’s curriculum is ambitious across all subjects.

"The delivery of this curriculum is consistently precise across the school and staff are aspirational for all pupils.

"As a result, the quality of work the pupils produce is of a high quality."

Touching on teachers' wellbeing and a determination for students to excel, the report adds: "The passion that the school has for ensuring pupils succeed, in all aspects of their school and wider life, is mirrored by the unstinting support they receive from parents.

Students were described as unwaveringly polite, kind, confident and thoughtful. (Image: Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School)

"School staff, including those at the very beginning of their careers, are proud to work at the school and feel their well-being is taken seriously.

"They describe the support from leaders as second to none."

The school's curriculum was described as ambitious across all subjects. (Image: Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School)

Declan Linnane, Nicholas Breakspear School's headteacher, commented: "I would like to thank the entire community for always giving their best – the reason we are all here working as hard as we do is so that our students can succeed spiritually, academically and in the wider world.

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"We always say to students that the experience of an NBS education only really starts when they walk out of our doors and into their future lives.

"Our students leave with fantastic exam results, but they also have eloquence and leadership skills which will enable them to follow the NBS mission to build a better world.

The school's headteacher has thanked the school community. (Image: Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School)

"Our Ofsted outstanding grading summarises that process, and I would like to thank the Ofsted inspectors for giving us the recognition our community deserves."