Ofsted praise for the way Leeds school responded to teacher’s murder

Inspectors said Corpus Christi Catholic College has made rapid improvements and have judged the school to be good overall.

It was previously rated as requiring improvement.

Teaching and the achievement of pupils were found to be good and improving.

Ofsted also said behaviour of pupils was good and that students felt safe.

The report also praises the school, its leaders, Leeds City Council and the Catholic community for the way they responded to the murder of Spanish teacher Ann Maguire in the school in April, last year. She was stabbed by student Will Cornick who was later jailed for her murder.

The incident shocked not only the school and the local community but the entire country.

Ofsted’s new report praises Corpus Christi Catholic College for the way it responded.

It says that over the last year, “close and sustained professional support” from a range of local authority services have helped staff and students to continue the process of recovery from the trauma.

It also said the wider partnership of Catholic schools and organisations, and other Leeds schools, were providing valuable support.

Corpus Christi Catholic College’s, head teacher Steve Mort, paid tribute to the commitment of school staff and students in helping it to achieve a good rating from Ofsted in the face of what happened.

He said: “We set ourselves robust targets after our last inspection, and it is wonderful that Ofsted has recognised the good progress that has been made in all four areas, despite the challenges that we have faced.

“As well as continuing to raise standards in attainment and achievement, the safety and welfare needs of the whole school community remained a priority for us.

“We continue to remember Ann in our prayers, and we know that she would have been very proud to see Corpus achieve this judgement.

“Now our challenge is to be even better, and I am confident that we are well placed to continue on our journey of school improvement and become an ‘outstanding’ school in the future.”

Martin Dowling, chair of governors added: “The governing body is immensely proud of this Ofsted report. It really is testament to how the whole school pulled together following Ann’s tragic death, and continued to focus on the needs of all students.

“The support that we received from Leeds City Council, the Diocese, West Yorkshire Police and colleagues from other schools in Leeds was a great comfort to us all, and we remain extremely grateful to them.”

At its last inspection in 2013 the college was found to require improvement but with pupil behaviour rated as good.

During the latest two day inspection, inspectors observed 37 lessons, looked at student’s work and spent time speaking to young people.

The report says the head teacher’s ambition, passion and high expectations had driven rapid school improvement, with good teaching over time helping students to make good progress.