Islip Manor High School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 November 2024

Pupils enjoy their diverse and welcoming school. They make use of the extensive green space and regular opportunities for sport this provides. Pupils are taught how to stay safe, including when online. Pupils, and students in the sixth form, are kept safe. They behave well and get along with each other. Bullying is rare. Pupils know who to speak to if they have concerns and feel that staff are always ready to listen. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), have opportunities to take part in the full life of the school. For example, pupils can develop their interests through the range of clubs on offer, including badminton, origami and film club. Pupils can enhance their leadership skills by contributing to the school community, for example as members of the student council or as reading buddies. Pupils across the school fundraise for and host an annual senior citizens' lunch at the school. The school has high expectations of pupils. Typically, pupils produce work of high quality across the curriculum. While published outcomes are low, the school is working effectively to improve these for all pupils over time.

What the school should improve

• The school's attendance and persistent absence figures are not meeting national expectations. This means that some pupils, including pupils with SEND, are missing too much school and not making as much progress as they might. The school should continue to work with pupils and their families to ensure that pupils attend well and on time.
• The curriculum and teaching approaches are at the early stages of implementation. This means that, in some subjects, teachers do not routinely promote appropriate discussion about the subject matter, systematically check for understanding and adjust teaching effectively. As a result, some pupils, including pupils with SEND and new arrivals, have misconceptions that are not addressed swiftly enough. The school should continue to implement teaching and assessment training so that staff are using agreed approaches.
• At times, the curriculum is not pitched appropriately based on what pupils know and can do towards ambitious end points. This makes it difficult for pupils to move through the curriculum at the appropriate pace and build their understanding over time. Leaders and those responsible for governance should continue to review how effectively the curriculum has been implemented to assure themselves of the standards pupils attain over time.

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