This is a lively and happy school. Leaders refer to the ‘Challoner family’ to describe the close school community. Pupils behave very well and treat each other kindly. Leaders want all pupils to experience success and to fulfil their potential, inside and outside the classroom. Across the curriculum, pupils aim high and flourish in their learning.

After attending a Business Networking Meeting at my old school, I was invited to a personal tour by Headmaster Mr Maher. I felt very privileged to be shown around by this very amazing, proud and very forward thinking Head who has steered the school to new heights. The school has practically double in size and student capacity. The old gym where we had a lot of Basketball success is now a well equipped drama studio and music rooms. The basement changing rooms is now the IT Helpdesk. Above the old canteen is a very posh looking cafe. Most lesson work is carried out with personal iPads. Computers everywhere. Do the kids know how lucky they are? It made me want to go back to school!

Your school's Progress 8 score of 0.63 is well above the national average, shows that you are amongst the top 9% of state-funded mainstream schools in terms of the progress your pupils make between key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. With 86% of your pupils entering the EBAcc in 2018, your school is in the top 5% of all state-funded mainstream secondary schools in the country. EBacc subjects provide a sound basis for careers beyond the age of 16 and can also enrich pupils' studies, giving them a broad general knowledge that will enable them to participate in and contribute to society.

We wish to congratulate you and your teams for your excellent leadership leading to Richard Challoner School retaining its Outstanding judgement from Ofsted. In the latest round of inspections only 17% gained that judgement with less sustaining it from earlier inspections. The report makes excellent reading especially ‘pupils aim high and flourish in their learning’. The team were clearly influenced by the ethos of the school to write such a quote. ‘Weaving cultural perspectives into the curriculum’ which is also described as ‘rich’ is also significant when considered against all the usual concerns Ofsted have about curriculum. Such an outcome can only be achieved by the leadership encouraging all staff to deliver as a confident professional team who know their students well. Please pass on our gratitude to all governors and staff for their full commitment to Catholic education delivering for every student at Richard Challoner School.