Gartree High School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 25 February 2025

Pupils are happy at Gartree High School. They get along very well together and enjoy positive relationships with staff. Pupils told inspectors that they feel safe and cared for. They value the school's positive and inclusive learning environment. The culture of the school is underpinned by its behaviour charter and the school's values, to which all pupils and staff are committed. The school provides a challenging curriculum that is designed well to meet pupils' aspirations. It has high expectations of what all pupils will achieve. Pupils rise to the challenge. They try hard and behave well. There are few distractions to learning. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well. Extra-curricular activities further enhance the school's offer and support pupils' character development. The school makes sure that there is something for everybody. Pupils value these varied opportunities. There is a wide range of clubs on offer to develop pupils' talents and interests in sports and the arts, as well as a variety of other pursuits. Trips and visits bring the curriculum to life and provide pupils with memorable experiences. Pupils are well informed about their next steps in education. There is a detailed careers programme. It includes opportunities to meet with, and visit, local employers and education providers.

What the school should improve

• At times, teachers do not check pupils' understanding precisely enough to identify any misconceptions or gaps in knowledge. When this happens, pupils' knowledge is insecure. They cannot recall what they have learned with confidence. The school needs to ensure that the strategies teachers use to check and adapt learning are applied consistently across the curriculum.
• Some aspects of the personal development programme are not delivered consistently well, especially in key stage 4. As a result, some pupils do not have an age-appropriate understanding of healthy relationships or of the protected characteristics. The school needs to make sure that the personal development programme is delivered effectively, and with sufficient emphasis, so that pupils are well-prepared for their next stages in education and beyond.

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