Honywood School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 December 2022

Pupils enjoy learning at The Honywood School. They are polite and respectful. They develop positive working relationships with staff. A strong sense of community exists within the school. Pupils feel and are safe. Pupils strive to achieve the high expectations set by staff, and to live by the school's core values of trust, respect, equity and excellence. All pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), benefit from an ambitious, well-designed and well-taught curriculum. The school community celebrates differences between people. Pupils aim to treat others as they want to be treated themselves. They learn about discrimination and bullying. On the rare occasions when these behaviours happen, they are confident that staff will help them. Pupils understand leaders' high expectations for good behaviour. Pupils say that behaviour 'has improved'. Lessons are calm and purposeful, with the focus firmly on learning. Pupils benefit from a wide range of activities beyond the classroom. Educational visits help them link their learning to the wider world. The 'learner leadership team' coordinates projects, based on pupil feedback, to improve the school environment. This has included the development of outdoor seating areas.

What the school should improve

• While reading is prioritised in the school, not all pupils are confident, engaged readers. While engagement in reading is improving across the school, some pupils do not read as well, or as often, as they could. Leaders need to continue to promote reading strategies that develop confident readers with a love of reading.
• Some pupils do not attend school regularly enough. As a result, these pupils risk falling behind. Leaders need to ensure that they continue to work with families and continue to implement strategies that will rapidly improve pupils' attendance.

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