Ofsted conducted a short inspection of Burford School on 14 May 2019, following its previous judgment of good in November 2015. The inspection confirmed that the school continues to maintain a good quality of education. The leadership team, under the headteacher since April 2016, has implemented numerous changes to enhance teaching and learning. The deputy headteacher, who joined in September 2018, collaborates with the headteacher to ensure that pupils succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
The school has expanded its offerings to include a teacher-led Nursery for three-year-olds, which opened in September 2018. The strong relationships between adults and children facilitate a smooth transition for the children, who engage enthusiastically in their learning. The curriculum is broad and exciting, with specialist teachers in music, modern foreign languages, and sports, ensuring high expectations. Observations during the inspection highlighted pupils' confidence and creativity in music lessons.
Burford School is characterized by a positive and harmonious environment. Staff are dedicated, and pupils express enjoyment in their lessons, describing them as fun and intellectually stimulating. The school offers various extracurricular activities, including trips and sports, which pupils appreciate. Leadership roles, such as e-safety officers, empower students to foster friendships and build strong relationships. Parents commend the school for its holistic approach to education, emphasizing the development of confident children prepared for future challenges.
The previous inspection recommended that leaders focus on improving school improvement planning to enhance pupil progress. The current evaluation of the school's effectiveness is accurate, and development planning targets the right areas. Governors effectively hold leaders accountable for pupil outcomes. Safeguarding measures are robust, with a strong culture of safety evident throughout the school. Leaders prioritize pupil welfare, ensuring that staff understand their roles in safeguarding. Pupils feel supported and report that bullying is rare, with teachers addressing any issues promptly.
The inspection focused on the effectiveness of writing instruction, reading progress, and the continuous improvement of the school. Leaders have introduced strategies to enhance writing, utilizing high-quality texts to enrich vocabulary. This approach has positively impacted pupils' writing skills, although consistency across the wider curriculum remains a goal. Pupils demonstrate a love for reading, discussing their favorite authors and books with enthusiasm. The school promotes reading through newsletters and a well-stocked library, contributing to strong progress in reading, particularly among disadvantaged pupils.
Middle leaders have developed their skills effectively, contributing to the school's improvement by monitoring teaching quality and focusing on staff training. While leaders have begun to track pupil progress more effectively across subjects, this practice is still being fully embedded. Governors possess a thorough understanding of the school's strengths and areas for development, providing valuable support and challenge.
Next steps for the school include ensuring that writing across the curriculum meets the high standards observed in English lessons and closely monitoring pupil progress in foundation subjects. The inspection findings will be shared with the governing body, regional schools commissioner, and the director of children's services for Buckinghamshire, and will be published on the Ofsted website.
