Ellen House Secondary

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 24 June 2025

The school holds high ambition for its pupils to achieve well. Pupils work hard and make the most of the opportunities that the school provides for them. Across much of the curriculum, pupils are well prepared for their next stage of education. An important part of the school's ethos is to help pupils to develop an understanding of equality, respect and compassion. Pupils have an excellent understanding of what these mean and apply them in many different ways. For example, pupils have a depth of knowledge about the protected characteristics. They have a strong conviction that everyone should be treated with respect. Pupils learn what it means to be part of a community. For instance, they reach out to members of the local community to offer support at times of personal bereavement. The school has high expectations for behaviour. Pupils strive to meet these and do so with ease. They are well mannered, courteous and considerate. The positive behaviour of pupils across the school contributes to creating calm classrooms and a place where pupils feel happy and safe. Pupils' positive relationships with staff help them to become increasingly confident and independent.

What the school should improve

• In a small number of subjects, the school has not determined the full range of essential content that pupils should learn. As a result, teachers are unsure about what important knowledge they should prioritise when designing learning activities. Consequently, pupils have gaps in their knowledge and do not learn as well as they could. The school should ensure its curriculum provides clarity about what pupils should learn.

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