Meopham School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 19 April 2023

Pupils are proud to attend this inclusive and positive school. They value the supportive and nurturing relationships they have with staff. Leaders have high aspirations for pupils and make sure that all experience effective teaching overall. The new headteacher and his leadership team have acted promptly to address the small minority of subjects that had lower results than most in the 2022 GCSE examinations. Current pupils in most subjects are now making effective progress through the planned curriculum. Leaders identify well the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). These pupils are supported well through the adaptations that teachers make for them in lessons. In 'The Windmill' provision, pupils benefit from additional support. All pupils thrive due to the warm and supportive relationships with staff. Leaders' high expectations of pupils' conduct ensures that behaviour is mostly calm and settled. Occasionally, a few pupils do not consistently meet these expectations. Pupils enjoy the enrichment programme, which includes a range of clubs and the school magazine, 'The Meopham Monthly'. They are proud to take on some of the leadership opportunities, such as sitting on the school council and, for sixth-form students, the chance to be 'reading leaders' and 'sports leaders'.

What the school should improve

• Rates of absence, particularly of persistent absence, are too high. As a result, not enough pupils attend well enough or benefit from the education the school provides. Leaders have identified the barriers to pupils attending well and actions to address these are starting to have a positive impact. Leaders need to continue to embed the systems and processes now in place and ensure that they are applied consistently so that more pupils attend well.
• A small minority of pupils still do not consistently meet the high standards that leaders have for behaviour. Leaders need to continue to embed their renewed behaviour policy. They must ensure that all staff understand and follow the expectations systematically and insist on the same high standards of behaviour throughout the school.
• Currently, some staff do not always know what knowledge pupils have remembered over time. This reduces the effectiveness of their planned learning activities. Leaders need to ensure that all staff have the knowledge to develop effective methods to ensure that all pupils, including those with SEND and those who are disadvantaged, can recall their knowledge in the long term and, in turn, secure the best possible outcomes.

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