Greatfields School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders have established a school where outstanding behaviour and good-quality teaching are the norm. Consequently, pupils make good progress. Lessons take place in a purposeful and respectful atmosphere.

This sense of 'respect' permeates the school and contributes to the very good relationships between staff, pupils and senior leaders. Teachers use their strong subject knowledge and draw on expertise from across the trust to devise and deliver lessons which enable pupils to make good progress over time. Leaders have a very accurate understanding of the quality of teaching at the school.

Leaders know that, very occasionally, teachers do n...ot identify quickly enough the pupils who have not understood the concept being taught. Strategies to promote reading across the school are very effective and results in pupils who join the school with lower than expected reading ages making rapid progress. The school's high ambition for its pupils is reflected by the high proportion of pupils who have chosen courses which will lead to the English Baccalaureate in key stage 4.

Limitations in the school's buildings and staffing have limited pupils' experiences in design and technology, computing and music. Leaders have ambitions and clear plans in place to improve provision in these curriculum areas. Trustees and governors provide effective oversight of the school's work.

They are astute in holding leaders to account for the quality of education that pupils receive. Pupils' understanding of fundamental British values is good. Pupils show strong levels of respect those with different faiths and beliefs.

Their knowledge of Britain's parliamentary system and of current affairs is less well developed. The school is highly inclusive and takes every step to avoid excluding pupils, including through use of an isolation room. Teaching in the isolation room is not consistently as effective as in the rest of the school.

The school's arrangements to keep pupils safe are highly effective. Leaders are tenacious in finding out where pupils who leave the school during the academic year have gone. They work well with the local authority to identify any pupils at risk of going missing from education.

Parents are highly supportive of the school and the quality of education it provides.

Information about this school

Greatfields School opened in September 2016 in temporary accommodation on the site of a nearby primary school. The school transferred to its purpose-built permanent school site in January 2018.

Phase one of the building works has been completed. Further facilities are currently under construction. Building work is scheduled to be completed by September 2020.

The school, which initially provided education for pupils in Year 7, has grown in size each year since it opened and currently has pupils in Years 7 to 9. Eventually, the school will provide education for pupils from Year 7 to Year 13 with spaces for over 1,800 pupils. The school is part of the Partnership Learning Multi-academy Trust.

Trustees are responsible for the school's performance. They delegate oversight of the school's day-to-day operations to an LGB. Some members of the LGB are also trustees.

The school is an extremely diverse community and the large majority of pupils are from minority ethnic backgrounds. Many of these pupils speak English as an additional language. Around 10% of pupils are of White British heritage.

The school serves an area of significant social deprivation and the proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium is higher than average. The proportion of pupils with SEND who receive school support is above average. The proportion with an education, health and care plan is average.

The proportion of mid-year admissions is much higher than average, as is the proportion of pupils who leave the school part-way through their education. The school makes use of alternative provision at The BEP Academy, Romford. This academy was judged by Ofsted to be good in November 2018.