CARDINAL Newman Catholic High School has been praised for removing any barriers to their students' success in their latest Ofsted report.

The Bridgewater Avenue school was told to improve by inspectors last year but has now been rated ‘good’ by Ofsted, which inspected the school on March 2 and 3.

Inspectors were impressed by improvements made at the school, especially in attainment for disadvantaged students.

Lead inspector, Christine Birchall, said: “Pupils are well cared for so that any barriers to success are removed.

“Disadvantaged pupils achieve well and gaps between their attainment and that of others are closing. 

“In English in 2015 disadvantaged pupils achieved even better than others in the school and nationally.

“Pupils who have special educational needs or disability are well supported so that they make good progress from their starting points.”

But inspectors found that progress is not as fast for students in years seven and nine and achievement in humanities subjects is not yet good.

Ofsted also said that the school’s own evaluation of the quality of teaching is slightly overgenerous.

In 2013, inspectors said the school’s leadership and management required improvement but the latest report praised leaders and the governing body for being ‘knowledgeable and supportive’.

Inspector Christine Birchall said: “Pupils enjoy school because they feel safe and are confident that teachers care about them and will do their best to help them.

“Pupils are polite, wear their school uniform with pride and respond quickly to teachers’ instructions.”

The report also found that the majority of teaching at the school is good and careers advice is especially strong, with practically all pupils going into further education, employment or training.

Inspectors said: “The head teacher and all leaders are relentless in their determination to make the school as effective as it can possibly be.”

To read the full report visit reports.ofsted.gov.uk.