Imberhorne School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 8 October 2024

Pupils enjoy their time at school. They feel safe and cared for. Pupils treat each other with respect and appreciate the school's focus on welcoming all. Staff work together to support pupils and take pride in understanding them well. This means that any pupils who need it are sensitively helped. If pupils have any concerns, about their learning or other aspects of their lives, they understand who to speak to. Pupils rise to the high expectations that the school has for their conduct. Behaviour in lessons and at breaktime and lunchtime is orderly. Pupils enjoy spending this time with their friends or attending the many activities which are on offer. The key stage 3 library is an important venue for pupils to read and relax, as well as develop their fluency in reading lessons. Students in the sixth form appreciate how they are supported to achieve by staff who understand them and how they learn. Similarly, pupils in both key stages 4 and 5 consider that they are encouraged and helped by staff who carefully build their learning over time. Younger pupils look forward to their move to the 'upper school' and value the thoughtful preparation they receive.

What the school should improve

• In some lessons, activity choice does not support pupils to secure the knowledge set out in the curriculum. This means some pupils do not learn as much as they should. The school must ensure that teachers have the expertise to routinely select the most appropriate activities and resources that enable pupils to secure learning.
• Sometimes the adaptation of teaching is not effective in supporting disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND to access the curriculum. This means they do not learn the important knowledge as intended, and some do not perform well in public examinations. The school should ensure that staff are fully equipped to adapt their teaching to meet the needs of all pupils.
• There is variability in how well the school's wider education helps pupils gain the knowledge they need about fundamental British values and protected characteristics. This means that some pupils are less well prepared for life in modern Britain than others. The school must ensure that all pupils benefit from their wider education so that they are prepared as well as possible for life beyond school.

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