St Egwin’s CofE Middle School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The school's motto 'love, respect and endeavour' permeates everything that happens here. This inclusive school has high ambitions for every pupil, including disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

All adults want pupils to excel. Pupils overcome many barriers to success and achieve well.

Pupils enjoy learning and attending school.

They are welcoming, friendly and polite. Respectful relationships between staff and pupils are commonplace. Behaviour is generally strong.

The school is a calm and purposeful learning environment. Staff will deal with any worries pupils may have quickly and effectively.
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The school provides many opportunities for pupils to broaden their experiences and develop their personal qualities.

Pupils are taught about keeping safe and the importance of being kind and tolerant. Pupils are a joy to speak to.

The school's extra-curricular offer includes a range of sporting and creative clubs.

For example, there is a popular choir and productions that many pupils take part in throughout the year. Additionally, many pupils go on trips, residentials and visits. The school provides pupils with effective advice about their next stages of education and possible career paths.

As a result, pupils are very well prepared for their next steps.

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

The school has a well-structured and ambitious curriculum in place. All pupils learn across a wide range of subjects.

Pupils join the school in Year 6, two terms before sitting their public tests. In the past, some pupils have not achieved well in these tests. By the time pupils leave the school, they catch up and learn the curriculum well.

Teachers have strong subject knowledge. They routinely check for any gaps in pupils' learning and skilfully adapt their teaching to ensure that pupils overcome challenges and achieve well. Carefully chosen resources help pupils to make connections between previous and new learning.

Staff spot quickly when any pupil needs extra help. The school ensures that staff receive information and training so that pupils with SEND receive swift and effective support. This includes on how best to support them in lessons.

As a result, pupils do well and overcome their learning barriers.

The provision for pupils who need help with reading is strong. Adults provide each pupil with the specific help they need to improve their reading accuracy and fluency.

Pupils read widely and often across the curriculum. Staff choose books to broaden pupils' access to high-quality literature. As a result, most pupils enjoy reading and do so at a level appropriate for their age.

The school has high expectations of pupils' behaviour and conduct, which are well understood by staff and pupils. Strong relationships further promote generally positive behaviour. The pastoral care for pupils is very strong.

However, there remains a small number of pupils who struggle to consistently meet these expectations. This then means that some of these pupils are suspended more often than their peers and miss valuable learning time. The school does not have a clear and systematic approach in place to help these pupils to catch up.

Pupils enjoy school and attend regularly. They value the care and nurture that staff provide. Parents are complimentary about the pastoral support their children receive.

There remains a small number of pupils who are persistently absent from school. The school supports these pupils and their families well and, as a result, these pupils improve their attendance.

The school works effectively to develop pupils' character.

Pupils have many varied opportunities to grow as people. This work is further underpinned by a strong personal, social and health education curriculum. Pupils develop an understanding of different faiths and cultures.

They learn valuable life lessons about mental health and well-being, personal safety, positive relationships and possible career pathways. Pupils are very well prepared for their future.

The school identifies any issues that fall short of their expectations and works effectively to address them.

Staff are proud to work at the school. They believe that leaders care about their workload and well-being.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• There are a small number of pupils who find it challenging to consistently meet leaders' high behaviour expectations. Some of these pupils are then suspended more often than their peers and miss valuable learning time. The school should ensure that pupils who find it difficult to meet the school's high behaviour expectations are supported to do so and effectively helped to catch up on missed learning.