Sir Tom Finney Community High School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 March 2023

Pupils are proud of their school. They feel that all pupils, no matter what their needs, are valued and included in all school activities. Pupils support each other and work well together to enjoy an exciting range of subjects. For example, the drama group is busy preparing for the summer musical production. Other pupils are carefully making products in design technology to sell in the local market. Pupils are happy and settled. They thrive in school. Leaders have high expectations for pupils. The focus on personal development, communication and independence allows pupils to achieve well. Many pupils exceed their education, health and care (EHC) plan targets. Pupils get on well with each other. They also have warm and trusting relationships with staff. Sometimes, pupils may fall out and feel bullied. When this happens, staff help pupils to understand the impact of any unkind words and help pupils to resolve any differences. This ensures that pupils learn to understand each other and respect and accept each other's uniqueness. School is a safe place, where pupils know that they have adults they can talk to and share any worries with. Adults deal with any incidents of bullying effectively. Pupils know that staff will keep them safe.

What the school should improve

• Leaders have not identified what they want pupils to know and be able to do in a small number of subjects, including reading, in key stage 4 and in the sixth form. At times, teachers do not design activities that help pupils to build up their knowledge over time. This inhibits pupils from achieving as well as they should. Leaders should finalise their curriculum thinking in these subjects, so that pupils are able to build more easily on the success that they enjoy in key stage 3 and the semi-formal and experiential department.

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