Tibshelf Community School has been recognized as a good school following its inspection on September 29 and 30, 2021. The school maintains high expectations for all its pupils, with teachers and leaders demonstrating ambition for both academic achievement and personal development. The curriculum has been thoughtfully designed to equip students with essential knowledge and skills for their future roles as global citizens. Strong relationships between pupils and staff foster a sense of community, contributing to a safe and happy environment for learning.
Pupils report that behavior is calm and orderly, allowing them to focus on their lessons. Instances of bullying are infrequent, and when they do occur, staff address them promptly. The school offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, ensuring that every pupil can find something that interests them. This includes clubs such as debate club, politics club, board games, and disco dodgeball, highlighting the school's commitment to providing a well-rounded educational experience.
The school has made significant improvements to its curriculum, ensuring it is ambitious and relevant for all pupils. Key vocabulary and knowledge are clearly identified across subjects, allowing for a structured approach to learning. However, there are areas where the curriculum planning could be enhanced to ensure that all pupils build their knowledge effectively over time. In Year 9, pupils have the opportunity to delve deeper into subjects of their choice while continuing to study a broad range of key stage 3 subjects.
Teachers generally exhibit strong subject knowledge and present information clearly. They assess pupils' understanding effectively in most lessons, although there are occasions when misconceptions are not addressed, and some lessons may overwhelm pupils with excessive information. The work produced by pupils is demanding and reflects their growing knowledge and skills. Support is provided for those who struggle with reading, and opportunities for reading for pleasure are encouraged.
Personal development lessons are well-structured, covering essential topics such as safety, healthy eating, relationships, British values, and various faiths and beliefs. Pupils feel empowered to challenge negative attitudes, such as homophobia and racism. The careers program offers meaningful encounters with the world of work, fulfilling the requirements of the Baker clause.
The special educational needs coordinator is well-informed about the needs of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. Teachers are trained to support these pupils effectively, ensuring they can access the full curriculum. Behavior management is handled well, with teachers addressing off-task behavior promptly.
Governors and leaders have demonstrated renewed ambition for the school, overseeing changes to leadership, curriculum, and behavior systems during the pandemic. Staff express high levels of job satisfaction, indicating a positive working environment.
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff well-trained to recognize and report concerns. Leaders conduct regular checks to ensure the safety of pupils during unstructured times. Pupils feel confident that they can approach staff with concerns, knowing they will be taken seriously.
To improve further, the school needs to ensure that all subjects have coherently sequenced planning to enhance pupils' knowledge and skills. Additionally, teachers should consistently employ effective strategies to facilitate learning, ensuring that pupils can remember and recall important knowledge fluently. Overall, Tibshelf Community School continues to provide a good education, with a strong foundation for future growth and development.
