Little Ilford School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 23 November 2022

Leaders set and maintain high standards of education and care for all pupils. They consider how they can provide further opportunity, including through a rich curriculum offer. This school has a culture of aspiration for all pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who are disadvantaged. Pupils feel safe at the school. Bullying is rare, but is dealt with effectively when it happens. Leaders have introduced a new behaviour system to reward excellence and effort and promote productive classroom environments. Pupils have positive attitudes to learning. They engage well with their studies and develop secure knowledge across the curriculum. Leaders and teachers have recently reviewed the curriculum to ensure that it is broad and ambitious for all pupils. The new curriculum ensures that each pupil learns a wide range of subjects in depth before they choose their GCSE options. Teachers are knowledgeable and well trained. They consider how they can enrich learning further, for example, through providing pupils with trips and additional clubs. Leaders and governors actively consider how to make things better for pupils. They involve pupils closely in this work. Pupils are keen to make suggestions and know that they will be listened to. Parents and carers think highly of the school.

What the school should improve

• Sometimes, teaching does not build in sufficient emphasis to ensuring that pupils remember securely what they have been taught. This affects how well pupils are able to recall previous learning and use it to understand new subject content. Leaders need to ensure that teachers check understanding, so that pupils learn and remember more across the curriculum.
• While leaders' new behaviour policy is working well, sometimes the new approaches are not fully understood by some pupils and parents. Leaders need to continue their work to embed this system with all stakeholders and ensure that all are confident that approaches are applied with fairness.

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