Brandles School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 4 June 2024

Staff at Brandles understand how to cater for the needs of pupils who attend the school. Each pupil receives a warm welcome as they arrive. Pupils have time for breakfast and a chance to be calm before the start of the school day. Staff make checks on pupils' welfare and their feelings. It allows them to make adjustments to the curriculum to meet pupils' needs. This helps pupils to be ready to learn. Pupils work hard to aspire to the school values, 'ready, respectful and safe'. It provides them with a simple approach of how they should behave at school. Relationships between adults and pupils are positive. They support the high expectations the school has for pupils' conduct and attitudes to learning. Pupils know that they can share any concerns. Adults will help to resolve them. Staff understand how to provide sensitive support if pupils misbehave. Calm voices and gentle persuasion help pupils to manage their emotions and re-engage in learning. Pupils enjoy different opportunities for hands-on learning. They learn how to mend scooters and bikes. They use the outdoors to develop bushcraft and horticultural skills.

What the school should improve

• In a few subjects, the curriculum plans do not identify the precise knowledge pupils need to build a deep knowledge of that subject. This means staff are unable to help pupils to progress as well as they should. The school should ensure that all subject plans include the key information, such as how pupils' knowledge will build, so that pupils make the strongest progress possible.
• Some pupils do not attend school regularly. This means that they are missing important learning which has a negative impact upon their academic and personal education. The school should continue to work with pupils and their families to overcome any barriers that prevents them from attending more frequently.

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