The Coleshill School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 11 February 2025

The school's values of 'work hard, be kind and take responsibility' are evident in how most pupils conduct themselves when at school. They show respect to each other, staff and visitors. Pupils know that expectations have been raised through 'the Coleshill way' and that routines such as the morning line-up help them to meet these expectations. They manage themselves appropriately as they move around the site, especially in some of the small but busy shared spaces. Most pupils are attentive in lessons, follow teachers' instructions and do not behave in a way that disrupts others' learning. Pupils enjoy working with each other, whether in discussion tasks or group performances. Although current pupils are learning the curriculum in a way that will support future success, this has not always been the case. Pupils' wider development is supported by a rich extra-curricular offer, including eco-club, book club and many sporting options. Pupils value opportunities to contribute to the school and wider community through the many leadership roles available, whatever their age. Sixth-form students are proud of the voice they are given in contributing to improvements. They enjoy representing the school, for example leading open evenings and a cross-country event for local primary schools.

What the school should improve

• There is inconsistency in how effectively staff use the school's chosen strategies for checking that pupils have understood their learning. Sometimes this means that gaps in knowledge or misconceptions persist. Sometimes pupils do not receive the precise feedback they need to deepen their knowledge. The school should ensure that staff are able to check pupils' understanding more precisely and adapt teaching or tasks effectively in response.
• The school's strategy to support disadvantaged pupils is not understood well enough by staff. As a result, some disadvantaged pupils do not achieve as well as their peers. Some do not attend school often enough and miss out on important learning and wider development opportunities. The school should ensure that staff at all levels understand their role and responsibilities in securing the best possible outcomes for these pupils.
• There has not been close enough oversight of how well pupils achieve in their examinations. As a result, a number of pupils do not leave school with the qualifications they need for their next steps. The trust should ensure that the school improvement strategy contributes more strongly towards better examination outcomes for pupils.

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