There is now a further recruitment drive at Saint Benedict due to expansion plans.
We are recruiting to a number of roles at Saint Benedict Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby due to exciting multi-million pound expansion plans.
Current vacancies include:
- Head of Biology
- Teacher of Maths
- HLTA – Numeracy Specialist
- Teacher of Computing
- Student Support Supervisor
- Manager of the Alternative Provision
- Cover Supervisor
- Level 1 Learning Support Assistant.
Please visit the vacancies section of our website for more information Vacancies – St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust (srscmat.co.uk)
St Thomas’ Catholic Voluntary Academy continues to be a ‘Good’ school, according to Ofsted.
Following a two-day ungraded inspection in February, inspectors said that pupils enjoy coming to this “welcoming school”, in Ilkeston, and that they have strong positive relationships with staff.
“Pupils say that all staff are caring. Pupils know a trusted adult they could speak to if they had a problem. The pupils at this school feel safe and happy,” they said.
The report said that leaders have woven the school’s five gospel values into the curriculum as well as all parts of school life.
“Teachers develop all pupils to show respect, forgiveness, honesty, love and friendship. The school operates as one cohesive community,” inspectors said.
It was noted that pupils, parents and carers agree that staff have high expectations for all pupils who attend St Thomas’ and as a consequence pupils behave very well.
The quality of early years provision was also highlighted in the report.
“Children in early years are eager to learn. They benefit from well planned provision and staff who nurture and look after them well. The vast majority of parents would recommend this school to other families. One parent’s comment summed up the view of many parents: ‘The school has a very welcoming atmosphere. Staff are kind and helpful to children and parents,” inspectors said.
The curriculum was praised by inspectors, who said it encompassed a broad range of subjects that give pupils the knowledge and skills that they need for the next phase of learning.
Inspectors said that teachers have good subject knowledge and ensure that pupils get opportunities to revisit prior learning.
“Children in early years get off to a flying start. Activities have a clear intent in developing children’s understanding across all areas of learning,” inspectors said.
The report said that the curriculum teaches pupils about different faiths and cultures.
Inspectors said: ““Pupils understand the diversity they will encounter in modern Britain. Pupils have a firm understanding of British values. Pupils benefit from sports and gardening club and they enjoy singing. School councillors and members of the pupil parliament help improve the school and wider community.
“Pupils commit to their study. They show positive attitudes towards learning. Purposeful, well-managed classrooms enable pupils to spend most of the time learning.”
Inspectors found that the safeguarding arrangements at the school are effective.
Michael Sellors, Headteacher at St Thomas’, said: “I am so pleased for our staff who work so hard day in and day out to educate and nurture all our pupils so that they achieve their best”.
Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Trust, said: “We are delighted for everyone at St Thomas’ and we would like to thank staff at the school for everything they do, every day, for the children in their care. Staff, governors, pupils and their families should be extremely proud of this outcome, as we are.”
Congratulations to everyone at Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary Academy in Burton after the school was nominated in the Secondary School of the Year category at the Tes School Awards 2023.
The school was recently graded Outstanding by Ofsted, only one of three schools in the country to go from Requires Improvement to Outstanding.
Well done to all of the staff, governors and pupils!
We are recruiting to a number of roles at Saint Benedict Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby due to exciting multi-million pound expansion plans.
Current vacancies include; Teachers of Maths, Science, Dance and a Pastoral Support Assistant
Please visit the vacancies section of our website for more information Vacancies – St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust (srscmat.co.uk)
St George’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby continues to be a Good school and could be judged Outstanding, according to Ofsted.
Following a two-day ungraded inspection in March, inspectors said there was enough evidence of improved performance to suggest that the school could be judged Outstanding if a graded inspection was to be carried out at that time.
During ungraded inspections Ofsted do not give graded judgements but if they find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, they will usually carry out a graded inspection within one to two years.
Rachael Snowdon-Poole, Headteacher at St George’s, said: “I am incredibly proud to lead such a wonderful team of staff and to work with our amazing pupils. The inspectors saw what we see every day and I am delighted that they have recognised the quality of the education on offer to all of our pupils. I would like to thank our whole school community for the part that they play in our success and to also thank the St. Ralph Sherwin CMAT who have offered us the most amazing support on our journey together as a school.”
Inspectors praised school leaders and said they were, “very ambitious for all associated with the school to succeed.”
They particularly praised the well-thought-out curriculum and how the school’s mission statement of, ‘Grow in faith, have faith in growing’, encourages pupils to “develop into confident individuals who enjoy learning.”
Behaviour was praised by inspectors who noted that the school is a “very calm and ordered place” with “high expectations of behaviour”, where pupils get on well with each other and are proud to be part of the school. The report said: “As a consequence, they love coming to school.”
Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities was found to be strong, with the report stating that, “Pupils with SEND are well supported within class. Expectations are high for them and they achieve well.”
The school’s inclusive approach was also highly praised, “There is a powerful sense of respect for one another and celebration of difference. As one parent stated: ‘I really appreciate how the school promotes British and Christian values in a multi-ethnic and multicultural environment.’”
The report noted that pupils learn to read as soon as they start school and that well trained staff provide focused support.
“Pupils understand the significance of learning to read. One pupil said: “Reading is an escape to another world. When I pick up a book it expands my mind.”’
The school’s knowledge based and well sequenced curriculum received particular recognition:
“Leaders have identified the key knowledge pupils need to learn, remember and use. Staff expertly shape learning activities to engage and hook pupils. Probing questions challenge thinking. As a consequence, pupils’ attitudes to their learning, and work, are strong,” the report said.
The very youngest children in school make an excellent start to their education.
Inspectors said: “Carefully crafted learning activities develop independence. Adults’ interactions with children challenge children’s thinking. Children collaborate well and show high levels of resilience and perseverance. They are keen and excited to share their learning with others. Children achieve well.”
The wider curriculum offer and programme of personal development was also celebrated, “Pupils have many opportunities to develop character and personality within school. There are a wide range of clubs and activities on offer.”
Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Trust, said: “Well done to all of the staff, governors and pupils at St George’s for a superb outcome. While inspectors found that the school continued to be Good, they were keen to point out that they feel the school could be Outstanding and are looking to bring forward their next inspection. This is fantastic news and well done to everyone involved.”
There is now further recruitment drive at Saint Benedict due to expansion
We are recruiting to a number of roles at Saint Benedict Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby due to exciting multi-million pound expansion plans.
Current vacancies include; Assistant Head of Year, Assistant Headteacher, Head of Biology, Teachers of Maths, Science, Dance, ICT and a Pastoral Support Assistant
Please visit the vacancies section of our website for more information Vacancies – St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust (srscmat.co.uk)
Students at Saint Benedict Catholic Voluntary Academy have won a once in a lifetime opportunity to sing on the same stage as West End stars, in front of a 2,000 strong audience at a European theatre festival.
Thirty-eight students will perform a song from Frozen at Music Theatre International’s Junior Theatre festival, Europe’s biggest celebration of musical theatre for young performers.
Hundreds of youth groups and schools from across the country submitted applications to be in with a chance to perform at the festival and take part in workshops with West End professionals, as part of a programme backed by Disney.
News of the Saint Benedict students’ success was shared on social media and prompted a kind-hearted donation of costumes for the performance, all the way from America.
Anna West, Director of Performing and Creative Arts at Saint Benedict, in Derby, said she burst out crying when she found out that her students would be performing at the festival.
She said: “I couldn’t speak I was so choked. I was just thinking about how this will mean so much for our children and it will enable them to see what opportunities there are for them in the arts, and what can happen if you believe you can do something.
“This is a once in a lifetime event for them, how often will they get to perform on the same stage as West End performers in front of 2,000 people.
“I tweeted a video of the students’ reaction when I told them the news and then a few days later I got an email from a lady in America whose theatre group had already performed Frozen. She has all the costumes and has offered to ship and lend them to us for free, which is wonderful.”
The festival takes place at the ICC in Birmingham on Saturday, April 29th and Saint Benedict students will take to the stage in the afternoon, followed by two performances from West End stars.
Mrs West said: “We are taking students from Years 7 to 12. In the morning they will do some work with other youth groups at the festival and in the afternoon they will take part in dance, drama and music workshops with West End professionals. Then they will do some tech on the main stage, followed by their performance.”
Students will sing the song ‘Fixer Upper’ on stage, a song from Frozen that they submitted as part of their application to perform at the festival.
Ryan Macauley, producer and director of the MIT Junior Theatre Festival, paid a visit to Saint Benedict to help students prepare for their performance.
He said: “Saint Benedict was chosen to perform at the festival because the application from the staff there was exemplary and the children are all ages and from all backgrounds and they are doing it together. We really saw that in the application and they deserved the chance to perform. We will have workshops from Aladdin, Les Mis and Wicked and there will be West End directors and choreographers.”
Student Lucy Finnegan, who is playing Anna, said working with Ryan had been a great experience.
She said: “We were all so excited when we found out that we were going to perform at the festival and to work with someone like Ryan has been amazing. We wouldn’t normally get the chance to go through our performance in so much detail.”
Headteacher Hazel Boyce said: “This is another fantastic achievement for the Performing and Creative Arts Team. At Saint Benedict, we recognise the positive impact the Arts have on young people and we are incredibly proud of our pupils and staff who have won this competition.”
The students will be performing Frozen as their school show at Saint Benedict, in Duffield Road, Derby, from 1st to 5th July 2023. Information about tickets will be released soon. Visit www.saintbenedictderby.srscmat.co.uk for details.
Pupils and staff from St George’s Catholic Voluntary Academy recognised for living simply, sustainably and in solidarity.
Pupils and staff from St George’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, in Derby, have achieved the LiveSimply Award after taking action to demonstrate they are living simply, sustainably and in solidarity with the world’s poorest communities.
Championed by overseas development charity CAFOD, the award was presented to pupils and staff on Tuesday 28th February. St George’s implemented a number of exceptional projects that highlighted the importance of caring for people and the planet. Their actions had a positive impact on their school community and also reached out to embrace the local community and our global community too.
Siobhan Farnell, CAFOD LiveSimply Award Assessor was delighted to confirm that St George’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby has achieved the LiveSimply Award.
She said “The pupils and staff have a great deal of passion for caring for the planet and living sustainably is embedded into all they do. It was a pleasure to hear from the Chaplaincy Team, they were eloquent and articulate in sharing how we need to look after the planet and its people and how “we appreciate God in others’’. They reach out to support the local and global community in acts of solidarity, reflecting Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si, calling for us all to hear and respond to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. The award is very much deserved.”
Recruitment drive at Saint Benedict due to expansion
We are recruiting to a number of roles at Saint Benedict Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby due to exciting multi-million pound expansion plans.
Current vacancies include Higher Level Teaching Assistant – Physical Needs and Learning Support Assistant (Level 1).
Please visit the vacancies section of our website for more information Vacancies – St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust (srscmat.co.uk)
St Margaret’s Catholic Voluntary Academy continues to be a ‘Good’ school, according to Ofsted.
Inspectors said that pupils love their small and caring school community at St Margaret’s, in Glossop Road, Gamesley.
They said: “They say that everyone knows each other well and that they look out for each other. Parents and carers unanimously appreciate the support the children receive. One parent’s comment was typical of many: ‘There is a lovely family feel to the school’.”
Leaders are ambitious that pupils will develop the qualities they need in order to be ready for life in modern Britain, the report said.
“Leaders identify these characteristics as: respect, empathy, self-awareness, positivity, excellence, communication and teamwork. Pupils work hard to show these in their work and play. They are keen to earn their ‘respect’ badge.”
This is the first ungraded inspection at St Margaret’s since 2016, when the school was judged to be ‘Good’.
The report said leaders have set high expectations for pupils’ behaviour.
“Pupils know how important it is to work hard. They show respect for each other and their teachers. In lessons, they listen carefully and do their best. The school is a happy and positive place for pupils to learn and staff to work,” inspectors said.
The curriculum was described as “well sequenced” and it sets out what pupils should learn.
“Teachers assess what pupils know and remember against the important knowledge identified in curriculum plans. They use this information to address misconceptions and gaps in pupils’ knowledge before moving on to new learning,” inspectors said.
Leaders were said to prioritise reading and it was noted that pupils talk with enthusiasm about the books they love.
“Pupils have many opportunities to read in school and are encouraged to read at home. Teachers and teaching assistants are experts in the teaching of reading. Pupils learn phonics well.”
Arrangements for safeguarding at the school, which is part of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, were described as effective.
Inspectors said: “All staff, including the designated safeguarding lead, receive regular safeguarding training. Everyone takes their safeguarding responsibilities seriously. They know what to look out for and how to record their concerns about pupils. Leaders act without delay when staff raise concerns.”
Grainne Beaumont, Headteacher at St Margaret’s, said: “I am thrilled for the staff who work so hard and for the children who are all superstars.
“The two inspectors were very impressed with the children in school. They spoke about the children being positive advocates for the school. This showed itself in the way the children behaved and worked on the day and emphasised how much the children wanted to impress the inspectors. It also showed how much pride they have for their school and teachers. Teachers were extremely proud of all the children. ”
Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Trust, said: “Congratulations to everyone at St Margaret’s. It was lovely to read all of the positive comments from Ofsted inspectors, which are a wonderful reflection of such a caring school where staff and governors are focused on providing children with the very best education and care.”
