Bassingbourn Village College

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 25 April 2023

Pupils who attend Bassingbourn Village College are proud to be part of their school. They understand the importance of looking after one another. They celebrate each other's successes and work together to overcome difficulties. They learn in a happy and safe environment, where they are challenged to achieve well. Pupils are encouraged to deepen their understanding of the wider world and make positive contributions to the community. For example, the environmental club recently attended a youth COP27 climate conference. They experienced the challenges of global negotiations and shared their ideas on effecting change in their local communities. Pupils are generally well mannered, polite and respectful. They understand the importance of listening to others, even if others' views are not the same as their own. Pupils consider it unacceptable to treat someone unkindly based on how they look, think or live. Bullying is rare and is dealt with well by adults when it happens.

What the school should improve

• Teachers' sometimes do not teach in a way that matches the curriculum goals with pupils' needs. They sometimes use activities that are not linked well to the learning aims, and at times they do not use time well. The result of this is that some pupils do not make the progress through the curriculum that leaders intend. Leaders should ensure that all teachers use pedagogical approaches that are suitable to the subject content.
• Not all staff follow the behaviour guidelines and routines set out by leaders. This means that some pupils do not behave as well as they should. Leaders should ensure that all staff consistently apply the agreed school policies and procedures to manage pupils' behaviour well.

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