'High Performance Learning' (HPL) School

Sacred Heart High School received a High Performance Learning World Class Award in July 2020 and following the three-yearly inspection process, we have been re-accredited as an HPL World Class School in June 2024.  To achieve this, we have met the exacting HPL Award Standards and demonstrated a world-class quality of education throughout the school.   You can use these links to read the re-accreditation awarding letter June 2024 with summary comments; and also the full feedback.

Some comments from the feedback are included below:

'Sacred Heart High School is restless, reflective and single-mindedly committed to providing an environment that supports learning for all students.'

'The emphasis on research and on implementing evidence-based approaches is also notable, as are the high expectations that staff have for themselves and their students.'

'The commitment of the SEN and the behaviour and inclusion departments to ensuring that students do not have barriers to their learning is impressive.'

'Pupils are highly impressive. Staff described them as having ‘a reverence for learning’, ‘high standards for themselves’, and being ‘ambitious’, ‘enquiring’, ‘kind’ and well-behaved’. I noted all those aspects from the student leaders, in the lessons that I observed, in the corridors, in assembly.'

'The students are impressive. In lessons they were keen to study and to learn, and they were able to explain how teachers’ feedback gave them the information that they needed to improve moving forward....They were also clearly proud of their school. As one of them said, ‘we are a community, but we are all individuals. Each of us is special.’  

We develop growth mindsets in all students. This focus is based on neuro-scientific research and the theories of Carol Dweck, which explain how intelligence is not fixed and the brain can be trained and developed with the right attitudes, beliefs and practices. 

The High Performance Learning philosophy takes growth mindsets a stage further by encouraging advanced thinking skills and learning behaviours. This combination of 'how to think' and 'how to behave' is what leads to success.  The seen pillars of high performance include a mindset shift; enquiry based learning; the development of expertise; practice and training; feedback; engagement of parents and approaching this 'with students' rather than teaching it 'to them'.   We identify the values, attributes and attitudes that can enable all our students to  perform well.

The HPL programme has had a significant impact on academic outcomes, whilst ensuring an appropriate balance for maintaining student well-being.  As High Performance Learning becomes further embedded, Sacred Heart High School is well-placed to make a significant contribution to the ambitious goals that the HPL organisation has, for revolutionising educational thinking and making this philosophy a widespread feature of all schooling.

The HPL commitment and belief that all students can perform highly, sits well with the long-standing philosophy of Sacred Heart Education, valuing each and every student individually, recognising that they all have gifts and talents, and valuing them for who they are.  As Madeleine Sophie Barat said 'For the sake of one child, I would have founded the Society'.  We educate individuals not a collective.