Severn Vale School, located in Quedgeley, Gloucester, has been recognized as a good school following its inspection on February 25-26, 2020. The school offers a calm and orderly environment conducive to learning, with teachers maintaining high expectations for student achievement. Positive relationships between staff and students enhance the learning experience, and pupils are actively engaged in their education. The behavior of students is commendable, with a strong sense of safety reported by the pupils. They express confidence in the staff's ability to address any incidents of poor behavior or bullying effectively.
Recent changes to the school day have positively impacted the focus on reading and provided students with opportunities to prepare for lessons and complete homework. Students appreciate these adjustments, noting that they feel better prepared for their first lessons of the day. The leadership team is ambitious regarding the personal development of students, emphasizing the importance of producing well-rounded individuals. The curriculum includes a dedicated program for personal, social, health, and economic education, which is prioritized in the school timetable.
The school leadership, including governors, actively seeks best practices from other institutions and adapts them to fit their context. They have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and areas for improvement. Subject leaders have outlined clear learning objectives, and in most subjects, teachers effectively implement these plans, allowing students to build their skills and retain knowledge over time. However, there are inconsistencies in leadership in certain subjects, such as geography, where some students have gaps in their knowledge.
Teachers employ a whole-school strategy to enhance writing skills across the curriculum, which has increased students' confidence in their writing abilities. Assessment practices are effective, with teachers using quizzes to reinforce learning. Students demonstrate good behavior in lessons, actively listening and engaging with their teachers. When disruptions occur, the school's behavior policy is applied consistently, and recent changes to this policy have further reduced instances of disruption.
The personal development of students is central to the school's mission, supported by a well-structured curriculum designed to help students become balanced and effective adults. Resources provided by the futures leader enable non-specialist teachers to deliver lessons confidently. The morning quizzes for key stage three students help build general knowledge and cover essential aspects of personal development.
Students with special educational needs and disabilities have access to the full curriculum, with teachers receiving the necessary information to support these students effectively. However, the number of pupils achieving the English Baccalaureate is low, primarily due to the limited uptake of modern foreign languages in key stage four. Leaders are addressing this issue by restructuring the key stage three curriculum to encourage more students to choose foreign languages in the future.
Staff members appreciate the efforts made by leaders to reduce their workload and provide support. This has fostered a positive working environment where staff feel valued and proud to be part of the school community. The safeguarding arrangements are effective, with a strong culture of safety and well-trained staff. Pupils feel secure and confident that their concerns will be taken seriously.
To improve, the school needs to ensure consistent leadership in geography to provide full curriculum coverage and address the gaps in learning for key stage four students. Additionally, efforts should continue to increase the uptake of modern foreign languages to enhance the number of students achieving the English Baccalaureate. Overall, Severn Vale School demonstrates a commitment to providing a high-quality education and fostering the personal development of its students.
