Desborough College

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 16 May 2024

Pupils benefit from the recently broadened curriculum and reshaped pastoral programmes throughout the school. These aim to help pupils to succeed academically and become well-rounded individuals. Most pupils gain the knowledge and skills needed for later life. The revamped sixth-form study centre supports students in working more responsibly and independently. Most pupils enjoy their learning and achieve well. Outside of regular lessons, pupils can access a broad range of extra-curricular activities, clubs and trips. The house system is an important aspect of school life, and pupils enjoy the opportunities it provides to participate in competitive activities, such as speedball. Pupils generally conduct themselves well. They are polite and friendly. Pupils understand the behaviour systems and say they work most of the time. Lessons are sometimes interrupted by a minority of pupils, but staff usually deal quickly with any poor behaviour. Social times are orderly, but there is some boisterous behaviour in corridors during lesson transitions. Bullying and discriminatory language are never tolerated. If they happen, any incidents are dealt with quickly. As a result, pupils feel confident that pastoral staff will help resolve issues.

What the school should improve

• Consistent practice is not yet embedded in some areas of the school's provision. This includes the use of assessment in some subjects and the implementation of some aspects of the tutor time reading programme. As a result, there are variations in pupils' learning and experiences. Leaders should ensure that the good practice within the school is shared and that approaches are refined to achieve consistency across the school.
• Staff do not consistently adapt their teaching for pupils with SEND. This means the achievement of these pupils is variable. The school should ensure that staff are equipped with the knowledge and skills to adapt their teaching and rigorously check that pupils with SEND learn as well as they could.
• Some pupils have not yet developed the positive attitudes to learning and the school's values that leaders intend. As a result, their behaviour in lessons and around the school falls short of the schools' high expectations. The school should continue to raise the expectations of behaviour and ensure that all staff implement the behaviour system effectively.

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