Marston Vale Middle School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This is a warm and caring school where pupils are happy and feel safe.

The school welcomes and accepts others, whatever their background. There are respectful relationships between pupils of all ages and between pupils and adults. Pupils enjoy and celebrate the recognition they receive through being a 'marvellous Marston'.

Pupils behave well. They demonstrate the school values of 'ready, respectful, responsible'. They understand how these help them to become responsible and kind citizens.

For example, in lessons, they are ready to learn and focus on their learning. They show politeness and respect around school such as by routinely holding doors open.
.../>The culture of high expectations extends to pupils' academic success.

Pupils learn an improved curriculum, which is helping them to know and remember more. As a result, pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), talk confidently and enthusiastically about what they have learned.

Pupils eagerly take on leadership roles from the increasing range of opportunities that are on offer.

This helps to ensure their voice is heard. Peer mentors articulate how their training has helped them listen to, and help, younger pupils joining the school.

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

The school's curriculum is ambitious for all pupils, including pupils with SEND.

It clearly sets out what pupils should learn and when they should learn it. A focus on specific aspects of learning, for example developing subject-specific vocabulary, helps pupils to learn well across every subject. This provides pupils with a secure grasp of important words that they use in discussions and in their well-presented written work.

Staff use their strong subject knowledge to teach the curriculum well. They select appropriate resources to present learning clearly. This aids pupils to make connections with what they already know.

Personalised plans for pupils with SEND help remove barriers to learning.

Staff regularly check what pupils know. When pupils' knowledge is not secure, staff adapt their teaching to help close gaps quickly.

As a result, pupils make progress through the curriculum. The school has put steps in place to improve on the 2023 Year 6 outcomes, such as training staff to develop their expertise and the redesigning of some curriculum content. These steps have helped pupils to know and remember more.

However, in a few subjects, such as mathematics, while pupils remember the important information set out in the curriculum, they are less able to apply their knowledge to unfamiliar situations. This means that they are not yet achieving as highly as they should.

The school has prioritised reading across the curriculum through building a strong reading culture among staff.

Pupils demonstrate a love of reading. Fluency lessons support all pupils to improve their reading skills. High-quality texts develop pupils' knowledge about different cultures and backgrounds and widen their vocabulary.

The school identifies pupils who struggle to read well. Leaders use this information to provide targeted support in areas such as phonics, fluency and comprehension. Pupils become confident readers.

Pupils are calm around the school and demonstrate positive attitudes to their learning. They attend school regularly. The school's provision for personal development is strong.

Assemblies and pastoral time give pupils opportunities to understand aspects such as life in modern Britain and healthy relationships. Pupils have a secure understanding of how to stay safe both online and in their local context, for example staying safe around water and around railway lines.

There is an extensive programme of clubs, which most pupils engage with.

Head pupils, house captains, subject ambassadors and peer mentors make meaningful contributions to school life. Pupils develop their confidence and leadership skills in these valued roles.

The school has brought about rapid improvement since the last Ofsted inspection, while being mindful of staff's workload and well-being.

Staff feel valued through the opportunities that are available to them to develop professionally. They are positive about working in the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a few subjects, for example mathematics, the curriculum and teaching have not ensured that pupils have the confidence to apply their knowledge to unfamiliar contexts. As a result, pupils are not yet making as much progress as they should. The school should ensure that it continues to develop opportunities across the curriculum to help pupils become more fluent in applying their knowledge and to improve outcomes at the end of key stage 2 and beyond.