Press Releases
Outstanding Report for Leading Staffordshire Independent School
By
Jul 26, 2007, 15:04

Education at Staffordshire’s leading independent girls’ school has been praised as “outstandingly broad, balanced and diverse” by inspectors.

An Independent Schools Council report says that the curriculum at St Dominic’s School in Brewood is “remarkably well and consistently planned” and adds: “The formal curriculum is then extended and enriched to an outstanding degree.”

The inspectors commented on teaching for boys and girls under five and girls aged up to 16, saying: “The girls are well prepared for the world of work and for their future career choices through a well-planned programme of careers education and guidance.”

Of the overall education at St Dominic’s, which has around 300 pupils, the report says: “Pupils of all ages and abilities are well-educated in mind, body and spirit. Achievement in most lessons observed throughout the school was good and was outstanding in many of the rest.”

At foundation stage, achievement in every lesson was described as “outstanding.”

In the national tests at ages seven and 11, pupils’ standards in English are said to be high and “far above the national average for girls in all maintained primary schools.” This applies equally to achievement at the higher levels expected of more able pupils, the report says.

Pupils are described as “excellent learners and students” and are “highly articulate and confident.” Inspectors also noted that the pupils weren’t overly “spoon fed” or dependent on their teachers for learning, highlighting their independence.  

The report underpins a belief in the development of the ‘whole person’, including each child’s spiritual, physical and moral well being, as well as academic progress, being at the heart of the school.  In particular, pastoral care is said to be “outstanding” throughout the school.

It’s a philosophy that has brought outstanding results for Staffordshire’s leading Independent school. It has consistently achieved a 100 per cent pass rate at GCSE and encourages ambition and independence in its pupils, all combined with a caring ethos.

Headteacher Mrs Sandra White says: “We are delighted with the report. At St Dominic’s we aim to prepare young people to meet the world with inner confidence, to trust in the value of each human being and to think and work with initiative and creativity in their lives.