Swakeleys School for Girls

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 17 May 2022

Pupils at this school work hard and achieve well. They gain qualifications in a wide range of subjects, and this helps them to be well prepared for their next stage in education and/or employment. Pupils benefit from having teachers who have very strong subject knowledge and who design learning activities carefully. Pupils behave well in lessons and say that disruption to learning is very rare. Pupils feel safe in this school. They know who to talk to if they have a concern, and they are taught how to make healthy and safe choices. Pupils take advantage of a wide range of activities that enrich and extend the curriculum, for example the popular Lit Fest celebrating reading and literature. There are numerous clubs and after-school activities. Pupils are also given the opportunity to take on leadership roles in the school, such as being a prefect or member of the school council. However, a few pupils say that they feel their concerns are not listened to. Diversity is celebrated, but leaders are not complacent and are taking steps to further develop the curriculum so that it reflects the whole school community.

What the school should improve

• Sometimes, teachers do not ensure that pupils know how well they are doing or that they tackle more challenging tasks. This means that sometimes pupils do not build their knowledge and understanding as well as they could. Leaders should ensure that there is further clarity and consistency in applying assessment strategies.
• Sometimes, leaders do not engage well enough with pupils to understand their opinions. This results in some pupils lacking confidence in leaders to deal well with bullying and a perception that some pupils are treated unfairly. Leaders should engage further with pupils in the school so that they feel listened to, and that their concerns are resolved.

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