The Friary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 19 March 2024

Pupils thrive at The Friary School, and it is easy to see why. A culture of high expectations permeates throughout, and pupils rise to this high bar willingly. Staff work tirelessly to prepare pupils for their examinations. This ensures that pupils achieve extremely well and are confident young adults who are ready for their next steps in education, employment or training. Pupils' behaviour and conduct are excellent. In lessons, pupils work diligently and complete work to a high standard. There are many clubs that pupils can participate in both during and after school. These include creative writing, reading, music, chess, drama and lots more. The house system places a key role in school life and pupils enjoy the different ways they can contribute to this, such as through sports, debating and current affairs competitions as well as raising money for charity. The curriculum offers a broad range of subjects for pupils to study. In both key stages 4 and 5, the school offers different qualifications that appeal to pupils' talents and interests. In many of these areas, pupils make very strong progress. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the school. One parent, in response to Ofsted's survey, summed up the views of many: 'This is a great school. My children are very happy here and teachers go above and beyond for pupils. It has very strong leadership.'

What the school should improve

• In a small number of areas, there is an overemphasis on what pupils need to be able to do by the end of Year 11. This means that, on occasion, in the design and implementation of the curriculum lower down the school, leaders have placed too much weight on what pupils need for their end of key stage 4 examinations. The school should look to evolve its curriculum to ensure that staff focus on what younger pupils need to know, understand and do for their particular point of learning.

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