Stonegate School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 16 September 2025

Pupils at Stonegate School are happy. They feel safe and secure. Pupils trust staff to look after them, especially if they have any worries or concerns. Pupils told inspectors that the best thing about their school is how staff encourage them to do their best and will never give up on them. This helps pupils to feel accepted. The school has high expectations for pupils' achievement. Staff take time to know and understand pupils as individuals. They show deep care for pupils' happiness and well-being. This helps to motivate pupils to behave well and to work hard in class. Over time, pupils develop their independence and resilience. They keep going even when they find work difficult. Typically, pupils achieve well and reach the high expectations that the school has of them. The school provides exceptionally well for pupils' personal development. Pupils benefit from a highly personalised offer that reflects their individual needs, which includes a vast range of experiences beyond the classroom. The school prioritises pupils' social and emotional development. It supports them to develop important skills, such as self-confidence, self-esteem and forming relationships. As a result of this positive work, pupils develop remarkably well from their differing starting points.

What the school should improve

• In a few subjects, the curriculum does not set out the small components of knowledge that pupils should learn. This sometimes makes it difficult for staff to ensure that pupils learn everything that they need to know. The school should ensure that there is clarity for staff about the smaller steps of knowledge that should be taught, so that pupils build a secure body of knowledge over time.
• Occasionally, staff do not identify or address gaps in some pupils' knowledge before they introduce new learning. This means that these pupils' learning is not as secure as it could be. The school should support staff in checking that pupils have successfully embedded prior knowledge before they introduce new curriculum content.

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