Plumstead Manor School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 14 June 2023

The school is a welcoming place, where pupils are kept safe. Leaders' ambitions for pupils' behaviour are not fully realised across the school. In Years 7 to 9, pupils do not routinely work hard and pay attention during lessons. Many pupils shared that they do not enjoy their experience at school. Pupils in Years 10 and 11 have positive attitudes to their learning. Pupils have mixed experiences during social times. While leaders do not tolerate bullying, some pupils do not trust adults in school to help them if they need it. Typically, pupils in Years 7 to 9 do not develop their learning securely. Pupils do not secure the important knowledge and skills they need to progress to the next stage of education. In the sixth form, students achieve well through a coherent curriculum. Leaders ensure that pupils learn about the importance of equality and diversity. They promote pupils' positive mental health. The school provides a wide range of opportunities outside of lessons, including extra-curricular clubs such as sports, chess and music. However, not enough pupils take part in them.

What the school should improve

• Leaders have not identified the key knowledge they expect pupils to learn and remember in Years 7 to 9. This means that pupils do not have opportunities to develop their subject-specific knowledge and skills securely. Leaders should ensure that they identify and sequence the important knowledge pupils need to learn in each subject at key stage 3.
• Teaching does not routinely help pupils to remember the key content they have been taught securely in Years 7 to 9. This means that too many pupils have gaps in their knowledge, which limits their readiness for future content. Leaders must ensure that all teachers have the necessary expertise to deepen pupils' understanding.
• Leaders do not make sure that staff's expectations of pupils' behaviour are high in Years 7 to 9. Some staff are concerned about pupils' disruptive behaviour. They do not always feel that leaders support them well to manage behaviour. Leaders must ensure that all staff manage pupils' behaviour well so that poor behaviour does not interrupt learning.
• Too many pupils, particularly vulnerable pupils, do not attend school regularly. As a result, they miss important learning. Leaders should work with pupils, families and external agencies to ensure that vulnerable pupils attend school more often.
• Leaders have not ensured that their vision is realised securely through embedded policies and practice. The actions that leaders have taken to improve the school have not yet had the anticipated impact. This means that progress in several areas has been slow. Leaders must implement improvements effectively and check the impact regularly.

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