Sandringham School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils flourish at school. In collaboration with their peers, pupils live up to the very high expectations set by the school. Pupils are well prepared to build enriching and successful futures for themselves.

They are also enabled with the drive and abilities needed to make impressive positive contributions to society.

Pupils say that what makes the school great are the exceptional opportunities the school provides them to grow into highly capable young people. They take up these opportunities with the determination to succeed at the highest levels.

The high standard of their work and excellent achievement in national assessments reflect the exceptional quali...ty of education they receive.

Pupils enjoy learning alongside their peers. They work hard and thrive in the positive learning environment, demonstrating the school's values of kindness and humility.

Equipped with well-developed social and academic skills, pupils willingly and capably help each other when faced with tricky aspects of their studies.

Pupils aspire to join the impressive sixth form at the school. Students reach levels of scholarship found in university studies and achieve exceptional outcomes.

They model the very best of what the school expects, inspiring younger pupils to work hard, enjoy learning and take leadership roles within their community.

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

The school has a superbly designed curriculum. Each stage of learning is precisely planned.

This ensures that pupils build a rich understanding of their subjects and remember what they study. Staff deliver the curriculum expertly and with consistent high levels of effectiveness. Staff routinely check what pupils know and understand.

They provide timely support if pupils misunderstand or forget key knowledge. Across the school and including in the sixth form, the school's 'can-do' ethos and staff's relentless drive for excellence ensure that pupils, and students in the sixth form, master the curriculum.

Reading is very well developed at the school as an academic and leisure pursuit.

Pupils enjoy reading and share recommendations of good books with their peers. They proudly wear badges showing that they have achieved the school's reading challenge. Pupils make enthusiastic and meaningful use of the school's well-resourced library.

Staff are skilled at providing books that match the interests and needs of pupils. When pupils find reading difficult, staff support them effectively in lessons and in small reading groups. These pupils become fluent, confident readers.

In turn, they become more successful learners.

The school has successfully developed staff's approach to supporting pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Working with external specialists, leaders accurately identify the needs of these pupils.

Leaders provide precise guidance, which staff use effectively to plan appropriate learning activities.The high-quality teaching in lessons and small group support sessions ensures that pupils with SEND learn the curriculum extremely well. Staff also ensure that pupils develop their own effective strategies to overcome the challenges they face.

In the sixth form, students with SEND learn and achieve exceptionally well.

Pupils understand the school's expectations of their conduct and live up to them. They take their studies seriously and approach learning with enthusiasm.

Lessons are very purposeful and productive. Pupils proudly speak about their many awards such as house points and golden tickets.

The school's 'super curriculum', enrichment and extra-curricular programmes provide pupils opportunities to engage with the fulness of life.

This is evident in the exceptional way pupils can discuss complex global issues. Pupils, and students in the sixth form, learn the importance of respecting the lifestyles and beliefs of others. They show sensitivity when discussing controversial contemporary issues.

They have learned to value different points of view and the risks that come with dogmatic positions.

The school's comprehensive careers programme gives pupils the information and confidence to reach for and secure highly competitive destinations after leaving school. Pupils, and students in the sixth form, have meaningful opportunities to experience different workplaces.

They also make useful connections with employers to learn about different occupations. This includes providing sixth-form students interested in careers in education opportunities to teach younger pupils alongside teaching staff.

Leaders, including governors and trustees, have the confidence of parents, staff and pupils.

Stakeholders are proud of and appreciate the exceptional quality of provision at the school. Staff appreciate leaders' support in maintaining a reasonable workload.

Governors and trustees have a precise shared view of the strengths and weaknesses of the school.

They quickly identify when aspects of the school are not meeting their high standards. They challenge leaders robustly to ensure that issues are resolved and excellence maintained consistently.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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