Duke's Aldridge

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 29 April 2025

Duke's Aldridge has recently undergone a period of significant change. Pupils have benefited from raised expectations of what they can achieve. Pupils follow a curriculum that reflects the school's vision of 'inspire to excel'. Pupils embrace new knowledge, and they are keen to show what they have remembered. While many pupils achieve well, the support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is not sufficiently robust. As a result, some pupils are not well supported to achieve highly. Pupils typically show positive attitudes to their learning and listen attentively to staff. Routines are now clearly understood and followed. These support most pupils to behave well. Staff and pupils report how new procedures and expectations are becoming embedded and have resulted in a more calm and orderly school environment. Pupils enjoy their learning and are kept safe in school. They understand the importance of respecting and celebrating the differences between people. Pupils have many opportunities to learn beyond the academic curriculum. For example, pupils take part in a wide range of activities, such as swimming, Haringey Young Musicians and a range of sports clubs. The school uses its links with local organisations and employers to help develop pupils' character and resilience, such as through mentoring programmes and assemblies that help pupils learn how to stay safe in their local community.

What the school should improve

• Over time, pupils with SEND have not consistently received the support they need to access and progress through the curriculum. As a result, some of these pupils do not achieve as well as they should. The school should ensure that staff have the information and support they need to meet the specific needs of pupils with SEND. This includes ensuring tasks and activities are adapted in a meaningful way.
• Despite the majority of pupils benefitting from the school's revised policies for managing behaviour, there remain some pupils who miss important learning. The school should reduce the number of incidents of poor behaviour by improving early intervention strategies and support for pupils with additional behavioural needs.

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