Southfield School for Girls

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 18 April 2023

Pupils come to school in a safe, focused environment where expectations are high. They have positive relationships with staff who know them well. Through the enrichment programme, every pupil benefits from a rich set of experiences. This means pupils try things they would not otherwise try. As one group of pupils agreed, they are pushed out of their 'comfort zone' and are surprised by what they enjoy and achieve. As a result, pupils develop resilience, confidence and optimism. The school expects pupils to behave well. Pupils know what is expected of them and the vast majority behave very well. They are polite, welcoming and kind. A small number of pupils disrupt learning or are unkind to others. The school takes firm action to tackle this. Pupils said bullying sometimes happens. They report it and adults deal with it seriously. Pupils study a wide range of subjects. This is because the school wants them to have lots of options for future study or work. Students in the sixth form benefit from very strong provision that prepares them well for their next steps. They contribute significantly to the school community.

What the school should improve

• Leaders recognise that the provision for pupils with SEND needs to improve. Pupils do not benefit from consistently effective support. Leaders have detailed plans to address this and have already begun to take effective action. They must make sure that staff identify pupils' needs and provide consistently effective support for pupils.
• Teachers do not always give pupils quality or timely feedback on their work. Pupils repeat errors or do not have the opportunity to improve their work. Leaders must ensure that teachers prioritise feedback that addresses any misconceptions promptly and deepens pupils' understanding so that pupils produce consistently high-quality work.

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