Sir William Romney’s School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Under the dynamic leadership of the headteacher, the school is making good progress. He provides a clear direction for the school and is ably assisted by a highly effective senior leadership team. Middle leaders are now a strength of the school.

They are at the heart of improvements the school is making in the quality of education. Outcomes overall for pupils in all years are good. Many are now making rapid progress as they move through the school.

The performance of disadvantaged pupils is improving rapidly and the gap between their achievement and that of other pupils is narrowing. The overall quality of teaching is good. Lessons are we...ll planned and delivered.

The school's approach to assessment and marking allows pupils to clearly understand what they have done well and how to do even better. Pupils are very polite and conduct themselves around the school site safely. Most pupils display very positive attitudes to learning and clearly want to do well.

There is relatively little disruptive behaviour in lessons and when it occurs, it is usually dealt with well by teachers. The school looks after its pupils very well. Pupils and their parents feel that it is a very safe place in which children can thrive.

Pupils are prepared well for the next stage of their lives. Almost all those who leave after Year 11 go on to meaningful and sustained education, employment or training. Governors have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and areas that it needs to develop.

They provide strong support for the school's leaders but also challenge them to improve the school further. It is not yet an outstanding school because : The level of challenge for pupils of all abilities, but especially the most able, is not always as high as it could be and this can slow down their progress. Absence and persistent absence are too high.

Exclusion rates are too high. The effectiveness with which the school's assessment and marking policy is used by teachers to help pupils make progress is variable. Outcomes for pupils are not consistently high enough across all subjects.

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Information about this school

Sir William Romney's School is smaller than the average-sized secondary school. It became an academy in 2011. It has below-average proportions of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals or who speak English as an additional language.

The pupils are predominantly from White British backgrounds. The proportion of pupils with either a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan is higher than the national average. The school is undersubscribed and as a consequence a large number of its pupils join at times other than at the start of Year 7.

By the time a cohort reaches Year 11, as many as 20% of pupils will have joined in this manner. The school uses one alternative provider, Stroud College. The school meets the government's floor standards for GCSE results, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

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