Grays Convent High School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 10 May 2023

Pupils enjoy attending this school. They feel part of a supportive family where relationships are very strong between pupils and staff. Pupils value and live up to the school's ethos. They gain confidence and learn well at the school. Pupils appreciate and benefit from teachers' support and expertise. Pupils develop the reading and mathematical skills they need to learn the curriculum successfully. They also confidently recall and apply learning from different subjects to the real-life examples teachers provide. Pupils embrace the extensive opportunities for personal development at the school. This helps pupils develop skills beyond the curriculum and prepares them well for their next steps. Pupils value the 'Rise Above' events, where they learn about important topics such as positive relationships and laws. The school is calm and orderly. Pupils behave well. Pupils feel confident that on the rare occasions when bullying occurs, teachers deal with it effectively so that it stops and does not reoccur. Pupils show high levels of respect for each other's differences. Pupils know that staff will keep them safe.

What the school should improve

• Some teachers do not support pupils with SEND well enough. As a result, some pupils do not learn aspects of the intended curriculum. Leaders should ensure that all staff have the necessary knowledge and expertise to ensure that pupils with SEND learn consistently well.
• In some subjects, leaders do not set out specifically what pupils should learn. Some teachers do not check what pupils know and understand well enough. This means that, at times, pupils do not learn what leaders intend and that some misconceptions are not addressed. Leaders should ensure that what pupils need to learn is clearly set out in all subjects and that staff check pupils' learning consistently and purposefully.

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