Twynham School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy coming to school and have positive attitudes to learning. The school has recently raised its expectations of pupils' behaviour.

Most pupils live up to these. They typically learn without disruption and conduct themselves well around the school site. The school encourages pupils to treat others with respect and appreciate difference.

Most pupils and parents share confidence that the school deals with bullying effectively.

The school offers pupils a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities. Some enjoy performing in the school musical, or in 'Bands Night.'

Others participate in clubs, such as robotics, gardening or chess. The school en...sures that disadvantaged pupils benefit from the programme on offer. Younger pupils make better use of extra-curricular opportunities than older pupils.

Pupils take on a variety of leadership opportunities. They are proud to represent the school in positions, such as prefects, members of the 'senate' or sports leaders. Pupils appreciate the trips and visits that the school organises.

They value putting their languages into practise when they visit other European countries, for example. Sixth-Form students relished applying their learning from geography when they recently visited Iceland.

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

Pupils follow a broad and ambitious curriculum.

The school is determined that all pupils develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in life. A high proportion of key stage 4 pupils achieve the English Baccalaureate. In the sixth form, students follow ambitious study programmes which are tailored to their needs.

The school has planned carefully what pupils should learn and when. This helps pupils build their learning on what they already know and can do. For example, sixth-form students studying American history draw on their knowledge from key stages 3 and 4.

Teachers have strong subject knowledge and typically present new information well. In most subjects, teaching rectifies any gaps pupils have in their learning.

Pupils deepen their knowledge and skills over time in most subjects.

Teachers typically check pupils' understanding and make adaptations to correct pupils' errors. However, in some subjects, pupils do not develop sufficiently detailed knowledge or write in depth. This hinders their achievement.

The school makes suitable adaptations to the curriculum for most pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). It has recently strengthened its work to ensure that all pupils' needs are identified and assessed accurately. Teachers usually make good use of the information they are provided to support pupils with SEND.

The school has recently enhanced its work to help the small number of pupils still learning to read. It quickly identifies those pupils in need of support. Pupils read books that build their reading accuracy, fluency and confidence.

As a result, these pupils gain the foundation they need for learning across the curriculum.

Most pupils are punctual and attend school regularly. The school identifies and supports pupils who need to reduce their absence.

The school takes suitable action to help pupils who need support to manage their behaviour.

The school is still refining its personal, social and health education curriculum. Younger pupils develop a strong understanding of healthy relationships, for example.

Older pupils and sixth-form students learn about important topics, such as consent. However, gaps in older pupils' and sixth-form students' knowledge are not always identified and remedied in a timely way.

Pupils, including sixth-form students, receive useful careers information, education, advice and guidance (CIEAG).

They benefit from the impartial advice they receive about next steps. This includes higher education and apprenticeships options. The school evaluates its CIEAG programme and liaises closely with local providers to tailor its offer to pupils.

Most pupils undertake suitable work experience.

The school prepares pupils to be good citizens. Pupils have opportunities to debate and discuss important issues.

They learn about democracy by taking part in local youth elections. Pupils raise money for charities and contribute to local causes, such as food banks. Some sixth-form students and younger pupils volunteer in local schools and churches as part of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

This helps them learn how to make a positive contribution to society.

Trustees and local governors understand and perform their functions effectively. They hold leaders to account and challenge them to bring about improvement.

The school uses professional development successfully to enhance the quality of teaching. Those newest to teaching are well supported.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some subjects, pupils do not build sufficient depth in their understanding or write in detail. This is because the school does not consistently identify and rectify gaps in pupils' knowledge and skills. The trust and school need to ensure that teaching identifies and remedies gaps in pupils' learning in all subjects.