Churston Ferrers Grammar School Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 18 October 2022

Leaders have high expectations of all pupils. They have put in place strong principles that guide school life. Staff and pupils understand and value these. One of the principles is active citizenship. Some pupils demonstrate this through being on the school council or part of a debating club. Students in the sixth form are subject champions and many lead extra-curricular activities in school. A significant number of pupils participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme. Pupils are happy at school and enjoy strong relationships with staff. They are positive about the education they receive, both in and beyond the classroom. Pupils feel safe in school and have a trusted adult they can talk to. Parents and carers are very supportive of the school and describe it as a caring and nurturing environment. Pupils show positive attitudes towards their learning. There is very little low-level disruption in lessons, and it is not tolerated by teachers. Bullying is rare, and most pupils agree that staff resolve any incidents quickly and effectively. A small minority of pupils say that they experience derogatory language from their peers. Leaders have created the 'Churston Charter' to address this, specifically around inappropriate sexualised language or harmful sexual behaviours.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, the intent of the curriculum and sequencing of learning have not been considered carefully enough. This leads to gaps in pupils' knowledge, where they cannot build on what they already know. Leaders should ensure that there is coherent planning and sequencing across all areas of the curriculum.
• There is not an effective reading programme in place. This means that some pupils are not reading challenging texts beyond the curriculum. Leaders should put in place a comprehensive approach to reading so that all pupils are reading widely and often.

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