The De Montfort School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 10 October 2023

Pupils are proud of their school. The atmosphere is calm and orderly, both inside and outside of lessons. Pupils enjoy positive and respectful relationships with the staff. The school does much to build pupils' character. The importance of 'The TDMS Way' is clear. Staff, students and pupils know what it means to be part of the school. This is built on the lived values of integrity, commitment, ambition and creativity. Leaders are clear and consistent in their drive to make the school better. They have high expectations of all pupils. Students and pupils learn and grow in their understanding of the wider world, which prepares them for adult life. Pupils rise to leaders' expectations and achieve well in a range of subjects. Changes in the curriculum mean that more pupils now have a more academic focus to their studies. Pupils from Year 6 upwards show positive attitudes to learning. They apply themselves well in lessons. They work calmly and studiously. This is clear through their written work and the pride they have in their achievements. Most pupils behave well, and this has improved in recent years. Pupils know they are cared for. They feel safe and happy in school. Pupils say that bullying is rare and not accepted in school at all. They know it would be swiftly dealt with if it was to occur.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, assessment is not used effectively to identify gaps in pupils' learning. This means that any gaps are not addressed well enough, and some pupils are not able to recall and use their new knowledge fluently. The school should ensure that teachers make use of all assessment opportunities to identify and address gaps in pupils' knowledge, so that pupils are able to recall and remember more.
• Rates of absence are too high for some groups of pupils. This means that some pupils struggle to make progress through the planned curriculum because they miss too much learning. Leaders at all levels should continue to work to ensure that attendance improves, particularly for disadvantaged pupils.

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