Cavendish School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 19 March 2024

Pupils arrive at the school after a difficult time in mainstream education. Typically, their attendance has been poor. They have big gaps in their learning. Many pupils lack confidence. Pupils appreciate the small class sizes here. They get help and encouragement from staff. Staff have high expectations of their behaviour and effort. Gradually pupils improve their attendance and attitudes to learning. They make up for lost time. Pupils are safe and secure at school. Incidents of bullying and poor behaviour are rare. When they happen, staff act quickly to investigate and resolve any issues. This means that pupils get a fresh start every day. Staff teach pupils to look after their physical and mental health. Staff and pupils enjoy a healthy lunch together. Pupils benefit from art and emotional well-being therapies. Through the curriculum, pupils understand how to keep themselves safe in the community. For example, they learn about the dangers of knife crime. Pupils broaden their horizons through outings to places of interest, such as the Tate Modern. Leaders arrange access to impartial careers advice and work experience. All of this prepares pupils well for their next steps.

What the school should improve

• There is inconsistency in the regularity and effectiveness with which pupils' learning is checked, including errors in pupils' work. As a result, pupils in some subjects do not build on previously taught subject content securely. The school should continue to focus on ensuring that assessment is systematic, regular, and helps all pupils to understand how to improve their work.
• Pupils do not securely read widely for pleasure. This limits their opportunities to gain knowledge across the curriculum and limits their vocabulary. The school should ensure that a love of reading is promoted for all pupils by ensuring that they have access to a wider range of high-quality texts.

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