The latest inspection reports on our school are available below:
Notre Dame High School is a popular and successful Catholic co-educational Academy with a very wide catchment area drawing on all parts of the city and beyond. It has 1506 students, including 434 in the Sixth Form. The school population includes 52.9% of children from various ethnic minority groups.
The ethos of the school is Christian and we are primarily concerned with the distinctive Catholic education of students whilst respecting and welcoming children from other denominations. A major responsibility of our school is to help our students develop an understanding of their faith and to provide opportunities to foster and develop its practise. Each day begins and ends with a prayer and all students attend regular assemblies and services. A liturgical calendar is produced annually and the school community recognises and celebrates special times and holy days in the liturgical cycle. All staff employed by the Governors are asked to guarantee that they will uphold the Catholic/Christian ethos of the school and are required to sign the Catholic Education Service contract. All teachers are therefore expected to pray with students and accompany them to acts of worship held in the school. Please click here to find out more about the School Ethos.
Our staff are dedicated, highly experienced and approachable, creating a supportive and ambitious learning environment. The school employs over 158 members of staff, including 97 teachers, whose expertise and commitment ensure high standards across all areas of the curriculum. The Senior Management Team comprises the Headteacher, Senior Deputy Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and four Assistant Headteachers, providing clear strategic leadership and direction. Pastoral care is led by a Deputy Headteacher and delivered by a strong team of Heads of Year, Pastoral Managers, administrators and Form Tutors, who are central to the school’s pastoral system and the daily wellbeing of students. The Lay Chaplaincy Co-ordinator plays a vital role in supporting the whole school community, offering emotional support and spiritual guidance to both students and staff. The Sixth Form is led by an Assistant Headteacher, ensuring a focused and aspirational experience for our older students. Staff structures are carefully designed to meet the academic demands of a broad and challenging curriculum while nurturing the distinctive spirit of the school. Teachers collaborate within subject-based teams, fostering professional dialogue and sharing best practice. Teaching and learning are further supported by dedicated reprographics, technical and administrative staff. We are committed to open, participative and supportive leadership, with a strong culture of continuous improvement. A rigorous performance management process, involving every member of staff, underpins this commitment and has been recognised as outstanding.
School Day
The school operates a five one-hour period day. The school day begins at 9am and finishes at 3.35pm. There is a twenty-five minute form period at the start of the day.
Some Valued Traditions
The school is widely recognised for the quality and range of extra-curricular activities. The school has a strong musical tradition. Each year there is an advent service and concert. The school has a number of instrumental ensembles including orchestra, wind band and stage band.
The sports tradition has grown with some of our students reaching final national trials with the Football Association and national championship levels in badminton and rounders. Staff are encouraged to lead extra-curricular sporting activities. The school also runs the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. The school has achieved recognition because of a participative approach to prayer and worship which is proving to be pivotal in the faith development of students and staff. A significant aspect of this is the special relationship between the school and the Catholic Chaplaincy of Sheffield University.
The school has a ‘Friends of Notre Dame Association’ whose members offer their expertise in many ways, including the organisation of a range of social and fund-raising events. They have also been involved in the development of interview techniques with students seeking employment or entry to higher education.
Curriculum
Notre Dame has always endeavoured to ensure access for all our students to a broad, balanced and stimulating curriculum and encourages and expects all students to achieve their full potential.
In Years 7 & 8 all students follow courses in:
- Religious Education
- Personal, Social and Health Education
- Mathematics
- Technology
- Information Technology
- English
- Modern Foreign Languages (French or Spanish)
- Science
- Art
- History
- Music
- Drama
- Geography
- Physical Education
There is also the ‘Aspire’ programme to support some students with literacy and personal development. This takes place alongside Modern Foreign Language lessons.
Key Stage 4
Students have an element of choice within the curriculum determined nationally and can develop their own strengths and interests. Full courses in English, English Literature, Mathematics, Sciences, Religious Education and a Foreign Language are followed by all students.
Options subjects include: Art, Drama, Product Design, Food and Nutrition, Photography, Triple Science, Business, Dance, Geography, Child Development, History, Physical Education, iMedia, Health and Social Care, Computer Science and Music.
All courses lead to public examinations and the results achieved are well above both the local and national averages.
Sixth Form
The Sixth Form is based in the beautiful Oakbrook House. Our Post 16 students have access to a wide range of courses, which cater for a wide ability range. A large number of courses at Advanced level are offered, as is the opportunity to follow GCSE Mathematics and/or English. Numbers of students in the Sixth Form are rising quickly. All Sixth Form Students follow a course in Religious Education. Please click here to find out more about Sixth Form.
