Church Hill Middle School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 18 June 2024

Pupils feel happy and safe in this warm and friendly school. Relationships between staff and pupils are a real strength. Staff know their pupils well. Pupils know who to talk to if they have any worries or concerns. They know things will be dealt with well by staff. Pupils feel listened to and supported. Staff have high expectations for pupils' behaviour and conduct. In lessons, staff have created an engaging and purposeful learning atmosphere. Pupils enjoy their time together at breaktimes and lunchtimes. They understand the routines around the school and are supported well when they struggle. Pupils are respectful, kind and inclusive. They want the best for each other and work together well. The school offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities. These support the pupils in nurturing their interests and aiding their personal development. For example, there are a range of sports on offer as well as other activities, such as cooking and 'Purple Card' club. Pupils are encouraged to contribute to the school community and beyond. Pupils of all ages take up an array of leadership opportunities. Through these, they actively contribute to the life of the school. Recently, the school council has worked with staff to develop new house names to further enrich the sense of community felt by all.

What the school should improve

• There is variability between subjects in how feedback is used to support pupils' progress through the curriculum. As a result, pupils are not always benefiting from being able to deepen their understanding. The school should ensure that assessment is used effectively to improve pupils' experience of the taught curriculum.
• Attendance is not as high as it should be. As a result, absent pupils miss valuable time in lessons and do not experience the richness of the wider curriculum. The school needs to ensure that pupils attend more regularly and therefore experience more of the whole curriculum being delivered.
• The accurate identification of pupils' needs, and communication of this with parents, has not been sufficiently robust. As a consequence, some pupils are not always supported as well as they could be to engage with the ambitious curriculum that is in place. The school should ensure that the needs of all pupils are well understood, and the resulting provision is communicated to all those involved.

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