Thomas Telford School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 December 2022

Pupils flourish at Thomas Telford School. A culture of high expectations permeates every aspect of school life. From Years 7 to 13, pupils rise to the academic challenge and wealth of additional opportunities that staff provide. Leaders work in close partnership with parents and carers to ensure that pupils grow and develop into successful young adults. Pupils' behaviour throughout the school is exemplary. In lessons, pupils show a hunger and desire to learn. They feed off teachers' enthusiasm and passion for their subject. At lesson change-over and social times, pupils are mature and respectful of others. They carry their red folders to each lesson sensibly and wear their uniform and physical education (PE) kit with pride. Leaders deal with bullying swiftly if it ever occurs. The curriculum is broad and varied. In many subjects, teachers deepen pupils' knowledge and extend their learning through activities in and outside of the classroom. The sixth-form curriculum is similarly wide-ranging and supplemented with a wealth of other meaningful opportunities. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the school and the support it gives to their children. As one parent commented in response to Ofsted's survey, 'My child is encouraged to follow her dreams and reach her full potential.'

What the school should improve

• Leaders have not ensured that staff use attendance codes consistently to record when pupils are sent home due to poor behaviour. This means that governors do not have a clear oversight of pupils' behaviour and attendance. Leaders should ensure that, when pupils are sent home due to poor behaviour, this is recorded in the register in such a way that enables governors to have a better understanding of attendance, especially when pupils are sent home as a disciplinary measure. Leaders should also review their behaviour policy so that it accurately reflects the interventions that are put in place to support pupils with their behaviour.

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