Spalding Grammar School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 February 2024

Pupils enjoy a broad range of academic subjects and extra-curricular opportunities at Spalding Grammar School. They are well prepared for their next steps in education and their lives in modern Britain. They achieve well and many go on to aspirational destinations to pursue their ambitions. At lunchtimes and after school, many pupils enthusiastically take part in activities that include sports, games and performing arts. All pupils have opportunities to go on trips that include outdoor activities and foreign visits. Many take part in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme. There is an active school council that represents pupils and influences decisions that affect school life. Sixth form students act as role models and take on responsibilities to support the school community. Most pupils are happy at the school. They are polite and respectful. Most pupils try hard in lessons and participate in the wide range of extra-curricular activities on offer. However, some pupils do not enjoy school life as much as they should. They told inspectors that they do not always feel that they are part of a supportive school community. Some pupils are concerned about the behaviour of a minority of their peers.

What the school should improve

• In some lessons, staff do not check how well pupils have learned the intended knowledge. They do not routinely check pupils' understanding. Staff do not reliably provide feedback to address pupils' misconceptions or to stretch their thinking. As a result, staff do not effectively adapt lesson activities to meet the needs of all pupils. On some occasions, staff do not adapt lessons well enough to support pupils with SEND. When this happens, pupils sometimes become disengaged from their learning and do not try as hard as they might. The school needs to make sure that staff routinely check pupils learning and adapt lessons to meet the needs of all pupils.
• The school's routines and procedures for managing poor behaviour are not always applied effectively. Sometimes disruption to learning is not challenged. Sanctions for poor behaviour are not applied consistently by all staff. As a result, some pupils' experience at school is not as positive as it should be. The school needs to ensure that high expectations for behaviour are shared by all staff and that routines are applied consistently and fairly.

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