Bohunt School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The school community at Bohunt is a happy one. The very great majority of pupils and students behave sensibly, support each other and develop exceptionally well as young people.

The sixth form is an important feature of Bohunt. Its students are fine ambassadors for the school and offer an inspiration for younger pupils.

The school has high expectations for how well pupils and students achieve and these are met for many pupils.

This is most evident in the sixth form, where teachers are very skilled at introducing students to new knowledge and skills. They also ensure that they check students' understanding before enabling them to build on it effectively. Pupil...s take advantage of the wide academic curriculum and the exceptional range of extra-curricular activities, including overseas visits and visitors to school.

Pupils apply themselves energetically to their learning. They feel well supported by staff in their activities. Relationships between staff and pupils are strong.

Pupils are able to take on a range of leadership roles, helping prepare them well for later life. The school works effectively to keep pupils safe. Pupils are confident about who to talk to if they have concerns about their safety or well-being.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Support for pupils' personal development is exceptional. A well-crafted personal, social, emotional and health education programme helps them be healthy, respect others and understand how to keep themselves safe. They are challenged to be reflective about difficult issues, know right from wrong and value their cultural and spiritual development.

The vast range of extra-curricular activities help broaden pupils' learning.

The academic curriculum is inspiring. Options at GCSE and in the sixth form are very wide, with innovative aspects such as a 'Content and Language Integrated Learning' programme where subjects are studied in a foreign language.

The school works hard to create suitable pathways for all learners. It ensures they have rich options in subject disciplines which range from the arts, sciences and technology, to sports and caring professions. The sixth-form curriculum is a strongly academic offer and is highly valued by its students.

High-quality advice for pupils ensures they make appropriate choices about the subjects to study at GCSE, in the sixth form and when moving on from the school.

The school ensures curriculum content is selected effectively, introducing new knowledge and skills in a logical sequence. Teachers are experts and are passionate about their subjects.

Typically, they explain new learning well, checking in most cases that it has been understood. This is done exceptionally well in the sixth form, with precise identification of misunderstandings and subsequent appropriate guidance for students. There is much strong practice in the main school but it is less consistent.

Some gaps in pupils' understanding are not identified and remedied, especially among the pupils more vulnerable to underachievement.

Pupils with significant special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported well in the Solaris nurture provision, with teaching that meets their needs. The school works hard in mainstream lessons to include pupils with SEND and those from less advantaged backgrounds.

While much effective work is done by staff, there are some variations in its effectiveness. Sometimes teachers do not have all the information required to adapt their approaches for specific pupils who need more support, which slows these pupils' progress through the curriculum. A small but significant group of parents of pupils with SEND say provision could be improved.

The school places a high value on reading, identifying pupils needing extra help and making sure they catch up. The school promotes a love of reading effectively. Indeed, World Book Day, which fell during the inspection, saw some staff and pupils dressed as their favourite characters from books.

Pupils behave very well. Ready for learning on entering lessons, they follow the expected routines and staff instructions. Excellent support is provided to any pupils needing help to behave well.

Sixth-form students are models of diligence and determination. They are trusted to behave maturely. They do this in a separate centre, where they work hard in class or private study and relax in pleasant surroundings.

The school secures high attendance and works effectively with pupils and families where support is needed.

School leaders work closely within the Bohunt Education Trust. The school is highly ambitious on behalf of its young people, managing a significant rise in numbers and the opening of the sixth form since the last inspection.

Its ambitions are achieved in many, though not all, areas. Staff are very supportive of the school, saying they are well trained and have manageable workloads in the great majority of cases.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In lessons, teachers do not always check pupils' understanding fully before moving learning on. This means some gaps in knowledge are not tackled and the next steps are less securely learned. The trust should share the good practice that exists across the school so that it becomes the norm.

• Teachers do not always have access to all the information they need to adapt activities and meet the needs of pupils with SEND and other vulnerable pupils. This means these pupils make less secure progress than they might. The trust should ensure teachers have, and use fully, all relevant information about pupils.

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