High Performing Specialist School
St. Katherine’s High Performing Success
Press Release March 2009
St. Katherine’s School in Ham Green near Bristol has been invited to graduate as a High Performing Specialist School by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.
St. Katherine’s has been a specialist Science College since 2003, and has seen a significant year-on-year improvement in academic results as a consequence. In 2008 Ofsted highlighted many of the achievements and practices at the school as “outstanding”, the GCSE A*-C passes increased for the fourth consecutive year and the Contextual Value Added score for KS4-5 was in the top 15% of all schools nationally, with the CVA for KS2-4 the highest in North Somerset.
The high levels of achievements in all these areas, lead to the school being considered for High Performing Specialist Schools status and this was confirmed just before half term much to the delight of all the Staff, Students and Governors at the school.
Stephanie Quayle, Headteacher, said “This is a very exciting time for us as a school; it means that we will be taking on a second specialism which will add tremendous value to all our students, in terms of their learning experience and continued improvement in academic results”
Steve Welsh, Deputy Head, commented “The official body who set the criteria for this high level educational award is the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. We are now part of a network of innovative, high-performing secondary schools in partnership with business and the wider community across the UK.”
The new status will not only benefit St.Katherine’s but also its partner Primary schools and the local community. Additional funding will be available from September 2009 to support these exciting new plans.
St. Katherine's was also invited by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust to a celebratory event at The Royal College of Physicians in London recently. Having been to the special awards event and dinner, Stephanie Quayle said “We are delighted that St.Katherine's year-on-year improvement with our GCSE results has been formally recognised by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. We have seen almost 20% improvement from our 2005 – 2008 5+ A* - C GCSE’s and are very proud to be ranked this year in the top 12% of all schools nationally for pupil progress. Our Students, Staff and Governors are all extremely proud of everything that we have achieved.”