High praise for St Thomas Becket Catholic School in recent inspection
St Thomas Becket Catholic School in Northampton, part of Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Academies Trust (OLICAT), is celebrating receiving a glowing Catholic Schools Inspectorate (CSI) report.
During a two-day visit from the CSI in February, inspectors looked at every aspect of Catholic education provided to students at St Thomas Becket. After impressing the inspection team, the school was judged ‘Good’ overall, with ‘Outstanding’ ratings in two judgement areas – Catholic Life & Mission and Collective Worship.
The St Thomas Becket team were praised for creating a “welcoming, vibrant environment of care and spirituality” rooted in its mission that ‘Christ’s love is our foundation’.
Inspectors also recognised the strength of relationships across the school, noting that “students show a deep respect for each other and the staff, whom they clearly value,” reflecting the sense of community embedded in daily school life.
Paul McCahill, headteacher at St Thomas Becket Catholic School, said: “We are delighted that the report recognises the strength of our Catholic life and the commitment of our entire school community.
“Our mission is at the heart of everything we do, and we are incredibly proud of our school community who live this out each day, creating a caring environment for all.”
Other highlights from the report include:
-“St Thomas Becket Catholic School creates an environment in which individuals feel valued.”
-“Teachers create a positive learning environment which encourages students to participate.”
-“[The school] provides opportunities for students to express themselves through prayer using their gifts and talents.”
-“Sixth form students are instrumental in leading whole school charities linked to their Faith in Action lessons.”
-“[The school] draws on expertise from across the Trust to support professional dialogue and the moderation of Religious Education.”
In addition, the report also celebrated the school’s inclusive culture, with staff recognised as positive role models and parents reporting “the highest level of pastoral care for their children.”
Catherine Burnham, Chief Executive at Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Academies Trust, said: “This report affirms not only the high quality of education provided by St Thomas Becket, but also the deeply rooted Catholic ethos that shapes the spiritual and personal development of every student in our care.
“This is a community that is committed to providing an inclusive Catholic education for everyone and I am incredibly pleased to see the school’s many strengths recognised.”
Paul McCahill, headteacher, said: “This has certainly been an exciting term for our school, as we also recently found out that St Thomas Becket has been ranked among the top five state-funded schools in the country for the progress our sixth form students make. What a brilliant start to 2026!”