Strive for Education

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 7 November 2023

Attendance at this school is a wonderful experience for pupils. Relationships between staff and pupils are highly respectful. The atmosphere at the school is calm and caring. During unstructured time, pupils and staff socialise together in a relaxed setting. This helps pupils to feel comfortable and safe. Staff have created a homely atmosphere which is rare to see. Bullying and hurtful language are incredibly rare. Many pupils' attitudes to school are positive for the first time because of leaders' work to create a welcoming environment. The positive atmosphere in the school means that pupils strive to meet leaders' high expectations of them. Leaders ensure they have a clear understanding of pupils' aspirations. The curriculum is tailored for each pupil to meet these aspirations. Pupils enjoy a wide range of enriching experiences. For example, pupils make objects in woodwork classes which are donated to local care homes. Strong links with local businesses provide pupils with an understanding of potential future careers. Older pupils in the post-16 provision undertake work experience in the local area. Form time is used to ensure that pupils are exposed to the rich diversity of cultures that make up modern Britain.

What the school should improve

• Some of the subject specific targets for pupils are too broad. The information from initial assessments conducted when pupils enter the school is sometimes not used precisely enough. This means that opportunities to help pupils develop more sophisticated understanding of subject content can be missed. Leaders should ensure that the information they collect about pupils' subject specific ability is used to develop precise targets for pupils.

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