Emmanuel Church of England Middle School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 4 May 2022

Pupils feel safe and are happy at this welcoming school. They are proud to be part of the school and strive to represent it well. 'Do your best' is part of a bible passage that underpins the vision and values of the school. High expectations and an effective rewards system encourage pupils to do just that. The school is calm and orderly. Pupils are respectful in lessons and at social times. Bullying is rare. When it does happen, most pupils and parents say that staff deal with it well. Pupils are keen to learn. They enjoy their lessons and the enthusiasm with which teachers share what they know. Relationships between pupils and staff are warm, caring and respectful. Pupils are well known by staff, who care about their well- being as well as their learning. One parent says, 'The nurturing environment and high expectations mean my children have thrived.' This encapsulates the views of many others. There are many opportunities for pupils to develop their characters, interests and talents. Pupils appreciate these, and most take part in extra-curricular activities. Pupils aspire to the many leadership roles which are available to them.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, teaching is not supported by strong subject knowledge. This means that pupils' misconceptions sometimes persist. Leaders should ensure that all staff have the subject knowledge they need.
• A small number of pupils do not attend school regularly. This means they do not benefit from the full curriculum that the school provides. Leaders need to ensure that the attendance of the few who attend less well improves.

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