The Ecclesbourne School, located in Duffield, Derbyshire, underwent an inspection on September 19 and 20, 2023, with a follow-up on September 27, 2023. The overall effectiveness of the school was rated as good, marking a significant improvement from its previous inspection, which was deemed inadequate. The headteacher, James McNamara, leads the school, which is part of The Ecclesbourne School single-academy Trust, overseen by a board of trustees chaired by Richard Lindop.
The school has established high academic ambitions for all its pupils, who appreciate the quality of education provided. Many students take pride in earning merits, with a notable incentive being the all-burgundy tie awarded for achieving 130 merits. Pupils express a sense of safety and enjoyment in attending school, acknowledging improvements in behavior and overall school culture. The school promotes inclusivity and encourages pupils to be proactive in addressing issues rather than remaining passive bystanders. However, some students still lack confidence in reporting derogatory language, indicating a need for further improvement in this area.
Pupils actively participate in various house competitions and extracurricular activities, such as school productions, which foster a sense of community and belonging. The sixth form benefits from teachers who possess strong subject knowledge, enabling students to gain in-depth understanding across their subjects. The curriculum is broad and ambitious, with leaders carefully organizing content to facilitate deep understanding. For instance, in computing, pupils learn programming constructs through a visual language, which aids their transition to text-based languages.
Teachers generally demonstrate strong subject knowledge and effectively use assessments to gauge pupil understanding. However, there are instances where teachers do not adequately consider pupils' starting points, leading to information overload that can hinder learning, particularly for students with special educational needs and disabilities. Despite these challenges, pupils generally retain and recall what they have learned, performing well in national assessments, which prepares them for future educational endeavors.
The school has made significant strides in supporting pupils with special educational needs, implementing effective systems for identifying and assessing their needs. Reading has been prioritized, with strategies in place to enhance pupils' reading skills, and many students enjoy utilizing the library and promoting reading among peers.
Behavior within the school is largely calm and orderly, with pupils expressing enthusiasm for their learning experiences. However, there are still occasions where some students do not fully engage with their studies. The implementation of a new behavior policy has not yet been consistently applied by all staff, leading to some deviations from expected conduct. The school is actively working on developing a more inclusive culture and has trained staff to handle bullying and derogatory language effectively.
While leaders are taking steps to improve the school, they recognize that further enhancements in behavior are necessary. They are mindful of staff workload and well-being when introducing new initiatives, which has resulted in a supportive environment for staff. The strategic oversight committee has strengthened governance, allowing trustees to hold leaders accountable effectively.
The safeguarding arrangements at the school are effective, ensuring the safety and well-being of all pupils. However, there are areas for improvement, particularly in fostering an environment where all pupils feel confident to report issues such as derogatory language. The school must ensure that the new behavior policy is uniformly applied and that curriculum content is broken down appropriately to support all learners. Leaders also need to enhance their monitoring and evaluation processes to better understand the impact of their actions on school improvement. Overall, the Ecclesbourne School is on a positive trajectory, with a commitment to continuous improvement and a focus on providing a high-quality education for all its pupils.
