Cranborne Middle School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders and governors have worked relentlessly to improve the issues identified in the previous inspection.

Governors have made significant improvements to how well they fulfil their function. Teaching is typically good. Leaders have a clear philosophy which underpins the approach to learning.

Teachers and pupils use this to good effect. However, some inconsistencies are evident. Teachers give regular guidance to pupils about how they can improve their work.

They use questioning effectively to probe pupils' understanding. Pupils routinely respond to the advice they are given. Leaders have given careful consideration to the curric...ulum.

While there is a strong focus on the development of English and mathematics, this is not to the detriment of pupils developing their skills in a broad range of subjects. The curriculum to develop pupils' personal, social, health and cultural understanding equips pupils to be thoughtful, caring and active citizens. Leaders have used the additional funding provided for disadvantaged pupils wisely.

Consequently, these pupils make strong progress. Middle leaders are passionate about their areas of responsibility. They are developing their skills to support senior leaders to sustain and continue improvement.

However, not all middle leaders are precise enough in their use of the extensive assessment information they receive. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are known and cared for. However, their targets are not always aligned sharply enough to their academic progress, so their progress is variable.

In some lessons, the most able pupils are not challenged strongly enough to demonstrate good achievement. Leaders ensure that pupils benefit from a wide range of extra-curricular activities, overseas visits, outdoor activities and residential experiences. Staff actively encourage pupils to take on leadership roles.

The advice that pupils receive to support their next steps is thoughtful and well planned. Pupils say that they feel well prepared for the future. Pupils feel safe in school.

Leaders have improved rates of attendance. This has been particularly successful in reducing the proportion of pupils who miss school regularly.

Information about this school

Cranborne Middle school is a middle deemed secondary school catering for pupils from Year 5 to Year 8.

It is smaller than the average-sized secondary school. The majority of pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is below the national average.

The proportion of pupils with SEND is in line with the national average. The number of pupils who are supported by an education, health and care plan is above the national average. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is below the national average.