The Swanage School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils at The Swanage School belong to a strong community in which staff know them well. Positive relationships between staff and pupils underpin life at the school. This means that pupils have positive attitudes towards school and behave well.

Bullying is extremely rare because there is a culture of tolerance and kindness. Pupils are empathetic and learn how to take responsibility for their actions. They are supportive of one another and proud of their unique school.

Pupils learn from an innovative curriculum. The school ensures that pupils are prepared for their futures. Pupils undertake meaningful projects.

These explore national and global challenges. The... school also maintains strong links with its local community.

Pupils' wider experiences are central to the school's ethos.

A range of national and international trips are offered, including visits to Iceland and Switzerland, as well as a vast number of clubs and activities. Nearly all pupils take part in at least one extra-curricular club, from robotics, Formula 24 racing and astronomy, to a wide range of sports and outdoor education opportunities. Many pupils take part in the annual school musical theatre performance on a professional stage.

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

The school's curriculum is ambitious and carefully planned. Most subject curriculums are fully developed, although some aspects of curriculum development are in their early stages. Where the curriculum is developed well, pupils build knowledge sequentially.

Alongside subject-specific knowledge and skills, pupils learn how to work together and answer questions linked to personal, local and global challenges. The school takes a distinctive approach to its curriculum. While the full suite of subjects in the English Baccalaureate (Ebacc) is offered to pupils, many choose to take other academically ambitious options.

Teaching ensures that pupils deepen their understanding of each subject. Teachers question pupils skilfully to ensure they understand before they teach new content. This means that work is suitably demanding for pupils.

Teaching ensures that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported well. As a result, pupils mostly achieve well.

There is a culture of reading in the school.

Many pupils say they read more since joining the school. Struggling readers are supported to catch up, although some of this work is in its early stages. As a result, the support some pupils receive is not precisely matched to their needs.

Pupils with SEND are accurately identified. Teachers know and understand these pupils' needs well. They adapt learning, so these pupils learn effectively alongside their peers.

Most pupils enjoy coming to school and are proud to attend. The school maintains a sharp focus on attendance, but too many pupils are persistently absent. The school works closely with families and has supported some pupils to attend more regularly.

When pupils do not meet the school's high expectations, staff ensure they understand the consequences of their actions. Repeated poor behaviour is very rare. Pupils show high levels of respect towards one another.

Pupils value the large number of opportunities to develop their talents and interests. The school places a strong emphasis on pupils' personal development. For example, all pupils in Year 9 take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

The school has many local, national and international links, providing pupils with an exceptional range of opportunities. The school ensures that any barriers to participation are removed, including for disadvantaged pupils.

Pupils remember important information about how to keep themselves safe and healthy.

They enjoy opportunities to discuss and debate ideas. Careers education and guidance is prioritised. There is a strong focus on digital literacy.

Pupils are encouraged to reflect on and use their skills as they move through the school. As a result, pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education.

Leaders at the school ensure that teachers deliver the planned curriculum effectively.

They engage with staff positively, so they feel happy and proud to work at the school. There is a strong moral imperative to welcome all pupils. Governors understand the school's strengths and areas for development.

They challenge leaders appropriately to drive improvements where they are needed.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• A few curriculum areas are in the early stages of development.

As a result, the school has not yet evaluated the effectiveness of its implementation. The school must ensure that staff are fully supported to enact its plans, so that pupils learn consistently well across the curriculum. ? The school's work to support struggling readers is developing.

The school does not have a clear strategy in place for diagnosing precisely what kind of support pupils need. As a result, a few pupils do not gain the phonics knowledge and language comprehension necessary to read well. The school must ensure there is a coherent plan in place, so all pupils get precisely the right support.

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