Arunside School, Horsham

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 12 September 2023

Each day, pupils are eager to come to school. Pupils are kind and accepting of one another. They talk positively about welcoming any recently arrived pupils into their school community. Pupils and staff form warm relationships. A culture of inclusivity permeates the school. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) speak glowingly about the care and attention that they receive to help them flourish. In line with the school's value of 'ambition', teachers set high expectations for pupils' learning. Pupils are encouraged to think and to solve challenging problems independently. There is a keenness to learn, and pupils achieve well. They enjoy earning house points or having their work displayed on the 'wow wall' in recognition of their success. Pupils benefit from a range of varied experiences. They are eager to describe their favourite activities. Pupils particularly enjoy developing bushcraft skills in their regular visits to the forest school. Staff have high expectations for pupils' behaviour. The school rules are well known, and pupils respectfully follow the well-established routines. Pupils also think about how they treat their classmates and the importance of using 'kind hands' and 'kind words'.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, teachers do not always check precisely enough how well pupils are learning the intended curriculum. This means that misconceptions are not always identified and gaps in understanding are not consistently addressed promptly. The school should continue with the steps it is taking to monitor and refine how assessment is used to help pupils build understanding over time.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)