Crowdys Hill School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 17 June 2025

Pupils at Crowdys Hill appreciate the nurturing environment that the school has created. They know that staff care for them and do their best to meet their needs. Pupils feel safe and well supported. As a result, they are happy and behave well. All pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school makes sure that this does not limit its ambition for pupils' achievement. From Reception Year to the sixth form, staff have high expectations of pupils. They experience a coherent curriculum that builds the life skills they need to succeed in adulthood. Pupils learn to respect each other's differences. By their example, staff help pupils to treat each other with kindness. Pupils develop close, trusting relationships with staff. Skilled staff, including therapists, work together to support pupils' development. For example, they help pupils to develop their communication skills effectively. Pupils benefit from a wealth of activities outside of the classroom that help to expand their interests and develop independence. For example, the extensive school farm provides a rich source of experiences. It provides many opportunities for pupils to take on responsibilities and raise their self-confidence. Sixth-from students take part eagerly in adventurous outdoor activities on the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme.

What the school should improve

• The school has not ensured that all staff have the depth of understanding in their subject area that they need. Consequently, they are sometimes not able to adapt learning closely to pupils' needs. The school should ensure that all staff receive the support they need to deepen their subject understanding.
• The information from regular checks made on pupils' learning is not used as effectively as it could be to improve the curriculum in some subjects. This slows efforts to ensure that pupils learn well. The school should ensure that assessment information is gathered and used to inform curriculum development more precisely.
• In the past year, the school's efforts to improve attendance have produced positive results. However, some groups of pupils still do not attend well. This hinders their progress through the curriculum. The school should sharpen the actions it takes to encourage regular attendance, particularly in the sixth form.

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