Fulston Manor School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 April 2026

While pupils generally enjoy aspects of their learning, they do not achieve as well enough. Over time, many pupils have not achieved as well as they should have. Too many pupils are not well prepared for their next stage of education, employment or training. Pupils experience an inconsistent quality of teaching. Some pupils learn well when teaching is clear and teachers check understanding effectively. However, this is not the experience of all pupils, particularly those with additional barriers to learning. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities do not receive support that reduces barriers to learning consistently well. Older pupils who need additional help to read well do not get the precise support they need to read confidently. This limits how well pupils can access the curriculum and learn successfully. Students in the sixth form receive a more positive experience. They value the wide range of academic and vocational options which are available to them to study. Partnerships with local post-16 providers extend the range of qualifications that pupils can access. Students receive high-quality pastoral care that supports them to be prepared for adulthood. A well-considered personal, social, health and economic education and effective careers guidance prepare students well for their next steps. An increasing number of pupils attend school regularly. Pupils who need help to overcome barriers to positive engagement with school receive effective help in 'the nest' and 'ARC' provision. Pupils speak highly of caring staff that know them well. Pupils feel safe as they trust staff to provide effective help. Lessons are typically calm as staff are consistent with their expectations of behaviour. Around the site, pupils usually socialise sensibly, demonstrating 'Fulston family values' such as integrity and mindfulness. This helps prepare them well for life in modern Britain.

What the school should improve

• Governors and trustees should ensure that they have the skills and knowledge needed to hold leaders to account for improving the quality of pupils' education and experiences.
• The school must take urgent action to improve the achievement of all pupils, but particularly disadvantaged pupils, so that they acquire essential knowledge that enables them to achieve well and be prepared for their next steps in education, training o employment.
• Leaders must improve their processes for evaluating the effectiveness of their work to ensure it is helping pupils to overcome barriers to learning successfully.
• Leaders should ensure that teaching is consistently effective across subjects, particularly in checking understanding, so that teachers are skilled at addressing misconceptions and matching work precisely to pupils' needs and prior learning.
• Leaders should ensure that staff apply effective strategies so that disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive reliable support and access the curriculum securely.

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