Ofsted

Ofsted visited us in 2022 and found that pupils are confident, happy and polite, and that they enjoy positive relationships with their teachers. Pupils told inspectors they feel safe in school and know that staff have high expectations for their behaviour and success. They also said that when bullying does occur, staff deal with it fully and check back to make sure issues do not return. Leaders have worked hard to improve behaviour, and most pupils behave well.

Inspectors reported that pupils access a curriculum that reflects their interests and needs, taught by skilled staff. Lessons and wider experiences help pupils build the secure knowledge they need for future study and long‑term success. Pupils understand the importance of accepting others and respecting differences, and classrooms are welcoming and inclusive—particularly for pupils with complex learning needs. Pupils, including those in the sixth form, spoke enthusiastically about the wide range of clubs and activities on offer. Weekly opportunities such as cadets, science clubs and sports are highly valued, and learning beyond the classroom, including a bespoke character‑development programme, is an important part of school life.

Leaders were recognised for having a clear, shared vision to ensure every pupil, including those with SEND, can achieve well. Pupils with additional needs benefit from tailored curriculum pathways, nurture provision and high‑quality emotional support. Staff training and coaching are well established, creating a culture where expertise continues to grow. The curriculum reflects leaders’ high ambitions and is regularly reviewed to ensure pupils build secure knowledge over time. Teachers have strong subject knowledge and use subject‑specific vocabulary effectively, particularly in the sixth form where pupils learn complex concepts with confidence.

Assessment routines help teachers identify gaps in pupils’ knowledge, and targeted support enables pupils to keep up. In a small number of subjects, pupils do not always remember learning as well as they could, but leaders have already taken action to strengthen this. Reading is a priority across the school. Pupils who need additional help are identified quickly, and targeted intervention in Year 7 helps them make rapid progress. Across all subjects, pupils encounter high‑quality texts and meaningful opportunities to develop their reading confidence.

Leaders accurately identify pupils with SEND and ensure staff receive training on how best to support them. Pupils with SEND work towards the same ambitious goals as their peers, and recent improvements have made the languages curriculum accessible to all, including those with significant barriers to learning. Behaviour across the school is good, with poor conduct managed well and minimal disruption to lessons. Suspensions and behaviour referrals have reduced significantly over the past four years, and pupils told inspectors that the school feels calmer and that they trust staff to deal with issues effectively.