Tring School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 4 May 2023

Pupils and students are safe and happy here. Although large in number, everyone works well together to build a strong sense of community. While there are occasional moments of over-exuberance in the corridors and around the expansive school site, things rarely get out of hand. When they do, adults address inappropriate behaviours swiftly. Most pupils have confidence in adults' resolution of disagreements and of the rare incidences of bullying that occur. There are high expectations at the school, including for the standards pupils and students should achieve in their examinations. Most pupils do very well, although there is still some way to go in the numbers taking and passing the full English Baccalaureate (EBacc) suite of GCSEs. Provision for personal development is strong, including for students in the sixth form. Opportunities abound to participate in musical and dramatic performances, in addition to the sports clubs on offer. Wider afield, the school also provides opportunities for participation in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme and the World Challenge. Pupils and students are able to show leadership, and this does much to build confidence. Tring is a school where everyone is made to feel welcome and can be themselves, whatever their background or personal situation.

What the school should improve

• Although changes have been made to modern foreign languages provision in Years 7 to 9, the number of pupils taking and passing examinations in these subjects remains too low. Consequently, the number of pupils obtaining good grades in the EBacc subjects is not as high as it should be. Leaders should continue to develop provision for modern foreign languages so that significantly more pupils take and pass examinations in these subjects.
• Although the school provides a broad curriculum and a good range of enrichment activities, pupils' and students' cultural knowledge is not always deepened as much as it might be. Senior leaders should work with subject leaders to identify how and where teaching might extend pupils' and students' knowledge, to enhance their understanding.
• Some parents told inspectors that they needed more information about teaching and the curriculum, including around SEND and how pupils' progress is reported. Additionally, while all necessary policies and information are available to parents, these are not always easy to access. In partnership with trustees and with parents, leaders should review the school's methods and strategies for communication so that parents gain a better understanding of their children's education.

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