Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy has been graded Good with Outstanding areas in its latest Catholic Schools inspection.

The overall quality of Catholic education provided by the school was graded Good, along with Religious Education.

Catholic life and mission and collective worship were both graded Outstanding by inspectors from the Catholic Schools Inspectorate, who visited the school in Ilkeston in April 2023.

In their report, inspectors said: “The integrity and passion of all leaders, including governors, are tangible at St John Houghton. This is a popular school which holds Christ at its heart. The exceptional Catholic ethos permeates all areas of school life.

“The religious education department is at the forefront of the current progress and developments in teaching and learning at the school.”

They also said that the chaplaincy provision was a “shining beacon within the school.”

The approach to collective worship reflects the passion and engagement of the lay chaplain and school leaders and ensures that prayer remains a key focus of daily life for all students, staff and parents, the report said.

Engagement with the community is a strength which is to be “commended and celebrated”, inspectors said, highlighting the ‘Faith in Action’ awards, parish work, the development of an eco-garden and regular coffee mornings.

Inspectors said: “The St John Houghton school community is rightly proud of the Catholic nature of the school and this sense permeates every aspect of school life. All students feel valued and play an integral part within the school family.

“Students display deep respect both for their peers and staff in lessons and around the school. The language used by students consistently reflects a recognition of the dignity of others. There is a real sense of inclusivity encompassing all faiths, religions, and those without faith. The school routinely supports many initiatives locally, nationally, and internationally.”

Leaders and governors were praised and inspectors said they were deeply committed to ensuring that the school’s distinctive Catholic character is upheld and developed.

“They exercise their duty as guardians of the Catholic life and mission of the school extremely well, ensuring that Christ is always at the heart of everything undertaken. St John Houghton is deeply rooted in the local community, supporting strong links with parents, the parish and beyond,” inspectors said.

Steve Brogan, Headteacher at Saint John Houghton, said: “We are absolutely delighted to share this report, which recognises the commitment and dedication of all members of our school community. Since the previous inspection, we have worked tirelessly to improve our school and we are so pleased this has been recognised. The Catholic Life of our school is always at the heart of our work and our Mission Statement, ‘Inspiring ambition and excellence, guided by Christ,’ is truly lived out.”

Kevin Gritton, Trust Chief Executive, said: “Well done to all of the staff, governors and pupils at Saint John Houghton on this excellent report, which makes fantastic reading. The outcome is a testament to all of the hard work that goes on at the school and everyone should be extremely proud.”