Sandhurst School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher, leaders and governors are committed to improving pupils' life chances. Pupils feel very well supported and their achievements are regularly celebrated. Leaders and staff consistently promote equality and respect.

These values are now firmly embedded into the positive school culture. Pupils' conduct is typically good and they treat one another with respect. Leaders are determined that all pupils will access the full curriculum.

Their continual focus on improving attendance is ensuring that pupils, including the disadvantaged, attend school regularly, arrive on time and are ready to learn. The school has a strong culture of... safeguarding. Pupils feel safe and are kept safe because staff understand their responsibilities and know their pupils well.

Leaders' changes to the curriculum have broadened the breadth and choices available to pupils at key stages 3 and 4. The sixth-form curriculum provides an appropriate choice of options for students. Leaders routinely check on teachers' planning, teaching and assessment.

Students make strong progress from their different starting points. Pupils make good progress in English and mathematics because leaders regularly review and improve the quality of learning. Relationships between staff and pupils are very positive.

Pupils and their parents value highly the continual support they receive from staff. Leaders track and monitor progress routinely. They identify where pupils are falling behind.

However, the support that some pupils receive in a few subjects to help them to catch up is sometimes too slow. Most teachers plan engaging lessons. Activities are interesting, and appropriately challenge pupils of differing abilities to develop their knowledge and understanding.

However, some teachers' expectations are too low and they are not sufficiently stretching pupils' potential. Some teachers provide helpful feedback for pupils to help them to improve their work, but many do not check that pupils are using this information productively. Pupils achieve outcomes which are broadly in line with national averages.

However, some disadvantaged pupils could do better in some subjects. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is a school strength.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website.

The current headteacher was appointed in September 2013. The head of the sixth form was appointed in September 2015. Sandhurst School is smaller than the average-sized secondary school.

The proportion of pupils supported by pupil premium funding is below the national average. The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is in line with the national average. It is below the national average for those who have an education, health and care plan.

The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is in line with the national average. A few pupils in key stage 4 attend College Hall, a pupil referral unit, for additional support. A few pupils in key stage 4 follow alternative courses at Path Hill College.

Some pupils in Year 11 do work experience one day a week. School leaders support six other schools' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The majority of pupils and students are White British.

Almost 10% are Asian or Asian British. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress at key stage 4. The sixth-form outcomes are in line with the national threshold.

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