Cams Hill School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are supported well in this school.

They feel that they are listened to and have a voice in how the school develops. For example, some pupils recently helped review and change the rewards and praise scheme in the school.

Pupils say that they feel safe in school.

Most parents and carers agree with their children's view. Pupils enjoy a wide range of enrichment activities. An increasing number of pupils take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme.

Leaders have developed a thoughtful programme of opportunities to help pupils learn about important skills they will need in the future. For example, Year 10 pupils learn about managing finances we...ll.

Leaders are ambitious for pupils and want them all to do well.

Leaders give pupils helpful advice and guidance regarding future education and careers. Year 11 pupils are well supported in selecting and moving on to the right post-16 choices for them.

Pupils understand responsibility well.

Some are involved in ecology projects to protect the environment; others have key responsibilities in the day-to-day operation of the school, such as supervising the lunchtime queues and tills. They undertake these roles maturely and behave well throughout the school day.

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

Leaders have designed a curriculum that supports pupils to achieve highly in most subjects, for example mathematics.

They provide a wide range of subjects for pupils to study. In recent years, low numbers of pupils have studied a modern foreign language at GCSE. Leaders know this and are ambitious for the situation to change.

As a result, the proportion of pupils studying a modern foreign language is increasing.

Most leaders ensure that subjects are planned in a logical sequence. For example, in Year 7 religious studies, pupils learn about how communities develop, through a well-sequenced series of learning activities.

However, in some subjects, such as geography and design technology, learning is not yet sequenced as well.

Teachers are skilled and knowledgeable about the subjects they teach. They ask pupils well-considered questions to check pupils' understanding of what is being taught.

During the inspection, key stage 3 pupils were overheard answering their teachers' questions accurately about the team games they were playing in physical education. Where pupils have gaps in their understanding, teachers address them quickly. Because of this, pupils catch up promptly, and most are achieving well in physical education and the majority of other subjects, for example history.

Teachers know the individual needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well. They often adapt the planned learning to help pupils with SEND meet their personalised objectives. However, leaders do not yet have a full understanding of what strategies work best across the curriculum for all pupils with SEND.

Pupils' behaviour is good. Pupils are respectful to each other around the school. Most pupils are focused and pay attention to their teachers during lessons.

They engage well with the learning activities provided for them.

Leaders have introduced helpful anti-bullying strategies. For example, 'pupil peer coaches' support pupils if required.

Pupils talk of how helpful these peer coaches are. However, some pupils do not feel confident that if they had serious concerns around bullying, they would be dealt with by staff.

Leaders have developed an extensive programme of tutor-time activities.

Pupils learn about a broad variety of topics, such as health and well-being, and about different cultures around the world. Nevertheless, some pupils do not have a good understanding of the many different aspects of life in modern Britain.

Staff offer a wide range of after-school activities in sports, across the arts and other subjects.

Many pupils attend and enjoy these clubs. Most parents are supportive of the school and the rounded education they see it provides for their children.

Staff feel listened to by leaders.

They feel that they have a voice in helping leaders work to improve the school further. Most staff are happy at this school.

Governors fulfil their legal duties well.

They have secure understanding of what the school does well and what it needs to do to improve further. They are well placed to support leaders to continue the school's future development.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders know their safeguarding duties well and carry them out appropriately. They have introduced systems to allow staff to report concerns quickly. Staff ensure that incidents are addressed swiftly.

They know how and whom to report their concerns to about children's safety or welfare. They report concerns as they should.

Leaders' work with other agencies to support vulnerable pupils and their families is appropriate.

Leaders carry out the correct checks before adults are able to work with pupils at the school. Governors make regular checks on the safeguarding procedures in school to ensure that they are as effective as they should be.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

The school's curriculum is not yet sufficiently planned in a logical and coherent manner across some subjects.

Leaders know this. They have plans in place and are carrying out actions to address this. .

Most teachers use the information they receive about pupils with SEND well to plan helpful learning activities. However, leaders do not yet have a full picture of which approaches work best to support pupils. As such, they need to ensure that they have a more secure understanding of the most effective support in place for pupils with SEND.

This will ensure that the needs of all pupils with SEND are supported more effectively. . Leaders have taken actions to develop strategies to support pupils who feel that they are being bullied.

However, some pupils are not sure that these strategies are working well enough. Leaders need to ensure that their work to address bullying concerns is effective and understood by all, so that pupils have confidence that matters will be dealt with thoroughly when necessary. .

Pupils learn about peoples' different cultures and beliefs well. However, not all pupils have a good understanding of the values that drive life in Britain today. Leaders need to ensure that more pupils have a better knowledge and understanding of these values so that they are better prepared for the next steps in their lives.

Also at this postcode