Prendergast Ladywell School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher, senior leaders, and those responsible for governance, have acted with rigour to overcome the areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection. Consequently, the school now provides a good standard of education for pupils.

The morale of staff is high. Pupils say they are happy at school. The majority of parents would recommend the school, and the number of pupils attending the school is rising.

The governing board is highly effective. Governors are ambitious for the school and hold leaders to account for their work. Children in Reception have an excellent start to their education, making outstanding progress..../>
Pupils from key stage 1 to the age of 16 make good progress, and some attain highly. Teachers have good subject knowledge and plan well to ensure that pupils make good progress. In the best lessons, teachers question pupils well to push them forward in their learning.

This is not consistent across the school. Pupils' behaviour is good. Strong relationships between staff and pupils help pupils to feel secure and promote their learning and personal development well.

The curriculum gives pupils a balanced experience across academic and vocational subjects. Pupils benefit from a wide range of enrichment and extracurricular activities. Teaching in the primary phase is consistently strong.

Teaching in the secondary school is good. The impact of improvement in the quality of teaching over the last two years is seen clearly in pupils' work. Nonetheless, on occasion, expectations of what pupils can do are not high enough, particularly for disadvantaged pupils.

At times, teachers provide insufficient challenge for the most able pupils. Consequently, they do not make as much progress as they could.

Information about this school

Prendergast Ladywell School provides for a range of age groups.

It comprises an average-sized 11 to 16 secondary phase and a primary phase which currently caters for pupils from Reception Year up to Year 4. The school is part of the Leathersellers Federation of Schools, which is led by an executive headteacher who delegates day-to-day management of the schools to the headteachers. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is above the national average.

The proportion of pupils with SEND is slightly above the national average. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is above average. A small number of pupils attend alternative provision at Abbey Manor College.

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