Yardleys School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 7 March 2023

Yardleys School is a unique and special place. Staff have built an inclusive and cohesive community. They put pupils' best interests at the heart of all they do. Everyone is valued, and pupils attend happily, safely and with pride. One member of staff summed this up by saying, 'We know the pupils and look after them as we would our own children.' This is true. Leaders and staff insist that pupils behave and attend exceptionally well. Pupils rise to this challenge. Pupils learn what excellent behaviour looks like, and staff model this daily. Staff act promptly if pupils' behaviour should dip but do this with kindness and care. They take firm and decisive action, apply sanctions consistently and help pupils to reflect on their mistakes. Staff are alert to any instances of bullying and act immediately. Pupils are treated fairly and consistently by their teachers. Pupils benefit from a rich and diverse education. There are extensive opportunities for them to develop new talents and interests. Every Wednesday afternoon, the school community comes together in a diverse enrichment programme. Pupils can choose from an abundance of activities, from learning to knit and caring for an allotment to practising nail design. This strengthens the togetherness of the school community and cements relationships between staff and pupils.

What the school should improve

• Leaders have not consistently ensured that the ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum is delivered to all pupils so that they secure sufficient knowledge and understanding at the first point of learning. As a result, pupils are sometimes asked to remember and use prior learning that they have not securely understood. Leaders should ensure that all pupils know and understand the important building blocks of learning when they are originally taught so that they can then practise recalling and using these to further build their understanding.

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