Ryders Hayes School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 14 February 2023

The school's motto of 'doing the right thing to be the best you can be' underpins school life. This starts in the early years and is particularly true for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils with SEND are extremely well supported to fully participate in school life. All pupils achieve well. Most pupils strive to make the motto come to life. Pupils are generally happy, polite and caring towards each other. They know right from wrong and this keeps them safe. For example, if bullying happens, pupils report it and adults swiftly sort it out. There is good behaviour across school in most lessons for most classes. Where this is not the case, staff do not consistently follow this up. Pupils contribute strongly to school life in many areas. They are rightly proud of being a subject lead learner or a member of the pupil leadership team. They support peers in times of grief through the monthly 'bereavement support station'. They win national competitions in the field of science. They meet trustees and talk maturely about their views of school life. Leaders have ensured pupils value the 'growth mindset' idea of 'the power of yet'. They know, through the very special careers programme in place for every year group, including early years, that the world of work beckons.

What the school should improve

• In a few lessons across classrooms, a small number of pupils are not as focused on their learning as they could be. Some teachers do not consistently address it. When this happens, their own learning is hindered. Leaders must make sure that their high expectations for pupils' behaviour are understood by all, and are consistently applied by staff.
• Some pupils' work across some classes within different year groups lacks pride and contains basic errors in grammar, punctuation and spelling. Teachers do not consistently address this. Where this is the case, pupils repeat the same mistakes and are not being helped to present work to a high standard. Leaders should make sure that all teachers consistently have high expectations for presentation and address pupils' errors in a way that prevents them from being repeated.

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