Sir Harry Smith Community College

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 30 September 2025

The school provides pupils with a broad and often ambitious curriculum. However, important knowledge, including in some topics relating to pupils' personal development, is not always taught well enough. Pupils do not always learn the important knowledge that they need. Consequently, they do not achieve as well as they should. Pupils say that lessons are calmer than they were. They are usually able to focus on their work. Most pupils treat each other with respect and want to do well. However, when teaching is less effective, the behaviour of a minority of pupils disrupts the learning of others. Some pupils make unkind comments towards their peers. This affects some pupils' enjoyment of school. Pupils, like some staff, parents and carers, are frustrated when the school does not always deal with these issues well enough. Pupils have many opportunities to broaden their interests. The school offers a range of clubs, such as choir and coding. Pupils can take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. They participate in trips such as to a local air museum. There is an annual school musical. Pupils meet a wide range of employers, apprenticeship and education providers. This supports them to make informed choices about their next steps.

What the school should improve

• The school does not have detailed, timely information about how well pupils achieve, attend and behave, and about how well the curriculum is being taught. The school should ensure that systems are in place to make sure that it has an accurate picture of its provision so that it can identify priorities, provide support where it is needed and check that its actions are having the desired impact.
• The school has not ensured that staff check how well pupils learn the intended curriculum. Consequently, they do not always identify and close gaps in pupils' knowledge accurately or promptly enough. The school should ensure that staff have the knowledge they need to assess pupils' learning and successfully adjust the curriculum to meet pupils' needs.
• Pupils with SEND sometimes find it hard to enjoy school and to achieve as well as they should. This is because the school has not ensured that staff know how to make effective lesson adaptations for all pupils. Consequently, at times, pupils with SEND can struggle to access the curriculum. The school should provide staff with the knowledge and support they need to consistently provide pupils with appropriate help.
• Some groups of pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, do not attend well enough. As a result, there are gaps in their knowledge. They miss out on other activities and opportunities. The school should ensure that it fully identifies the barriers to high attendance and successfully addresses these, so that more pupils come to school more often.
• The delivery of the school's personal development programme is not always effective. The school has not checked that pupils learn what they need to know to fully prepare them for life in modern Britain. The school should check that staff are delivering the intended curriculum well. It should provide them with the support and guidance they need to do so.

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