Dene Magna and Sixth Form

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 8 October 2024

Pupils are proud of their school. They feel safe and happy in the caring community of Dene Magna School. The school's aim, 'that each and every learner shall achieve their maximum potential and enjoy the process,' lies at its heart. Pupils describe the school as being like 'a family'. There are warm relationships between staff and pupils. The school is calm and purposeful. Pupils show high levels of respect for their peers and support each other. They have very positive attitudes towards people from backgrounds different to their own. Pupils behave exceptionally well in lessons. They act maturely around school, including at social times. Pupils enjoy coming to school. All pupils speak highly of the pastoral support they receive. Attendance is high. Everyone participates in the rich life of the school. The house system creates a sense of belonging. Pupils enjoy the inter-house competitions. They develop a strong sense of citizenship by raising money for charities. Pupils and students in the sixth form appreciate the wealth of experiences that the school provides. These extend from kickboxing and a book club to a range of overseas trips. These opportunities nurture pupils' talents, build their leadership skills and raise aspirations. Pupils value the many leadership opportunities available to them.

What the school should improve

• The curriculum does not have a consistently strong impact on some pupils. For example, pupils' knowledge and understanding are not always checked well. When this occurs, the work that pupils are given does not match their needs. As a result, some pupils, especially disadvantaged pupils, have gaps in their knowledge. Disadvantaged pupils do not achieve as well as their non-disadvantaged peers. The trust should ensure that the curriculum, and how it is taught, enables all pupils to build successfully on their learning.

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