Orion Spires

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 10 January 2023

Pupils recognise that leaders have raised expectations of how pupils conduct themselves in school. They feel safe because the school rules make clear how pupils should behave and treat one another with respect. If bullying does happen, pupils trust staff to help them resolve any conflicts. If pupils do not follow the school rules, staff help them to understand how their behaviour impacts on others. Consequently, pupils say that behaviour has very much improved over time and their learning is now rarely disrupted. Assemblies teach pupils the important values of 'respect, responsibility and resilience', which are key to being a 'Spires pupil'. Pupils are proud to provide support to visiting pupils from other countries as a 'buddy'. They are keen to share their experiences of education in contrast to the rest of the world. Pupils are clear that their school is a place to learn well. While pupils know how to keep themselves safe and healthy, not all pupils receive the education they need about relationships and sex education, as well as valuable guidance around future careers. This means that not all pupils in Years 10 and 11 feel well prepared for the next stage in their education and life. Leaders know this and are already implementing clear plans to strengthen this support.

What the school should improve

• The curriculum is not yet consistently implemented as leaders intend by all teachers, within all subjects. This means that there is variability in how well pupils are able to build on prior learning to achieve as well as they could. Leaders should continue to ensure that all staff gain the expertise they need to precisely identify and close the gaps in pupils' learning.
• Not all pupils attend school as regularly as they should. This means that they are at risk of falling behind in their education. Leaders must continue to embed their extended plans to improve attendance and re-engage pupils back into education.
• The personal development curriculum is not yet fully implemented. As a result, not all pupils are as well informed about sex and relationships or confident when making decisions about careers. Leaders must ensure that they realise their comprehensive plans to enrich pupils' personal development, so that all pupils feel well prepared for life.

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