La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls School praised by Osaka University for closing achievement gaps and inclusion success
On the 14th of September 2022, La Retraite School welcomed researchers, professors and academics from Osaka University, Fukuoka University of Education and Matsuyama Shinonome College. Our school was chosen to be the subject of their case study, as the team were impressed by the success of the our inclusion and the closing of achievement gaps, whilst situated in an area with some of the high rates of child poverty in the UK.
The team met with students and staff across the school, including the Safeguarding, SEND and EAL Departments, alongside visiting reading intervention sessions and lessons. Following their visit, feedback shared with the school praised the intelligent and highly motivated students, overwhelmingly caring atmosphere, meaningful observations and important work actioned by the school to help improve student outcomes.
We look forward to finding out more of their research findings in due course.
“It was fascinating for us all that a great school such as yours. The girls accompanying us were all intelligent and highly motivated, and the atmosphere of the school was overwhelmingly caring. Many Japanese headteachers, not all, say hello and good-by to their pupils by the school gate like you. I felt that the most important part of school education is virtually the same all over the world”.
Ko Shimizu, Professor of Sociology at Osaka University
“Your pastoral and safeguarding team, especially learning mentors, gave us a good overview of your students' support work, which was very impressive. We are also grateful to have had the opportunity to talk with your students, as well as to be given a school tour by them. Our project leader, Ko, was very impressed by the idea that La Retraite gives more priority to students' well-being rather than their achievement.
The EAL classroom observations were also meaningful for us. I thought all the staff's and pupils' dedication was impressive and that it is really important work you are doing to reduce the burden for those young students and to help all the students improve their life and future.
This visit was a very precious experience for us. We cannot thank you enough, but I still have to say thank you once again for making our visit so productive and all the best for the continued success of your work”. Hayashizaki Kazuhiko, Associate Professor at Fukuoka University of Education
