Set Saxmundham School underwent a monitoring inspection on January 12, 2023, following its designation of serious weaknesses after a graded inspection in January 2022. The inspection aimed to evaluate the progress made since the last assessment and involved discussions with school leaders, trustees, and the chief executive officer of Seckford Education Trust. The inspector also observed lessons, reviewed pupils' work, and assessed the school's safeguarding measures.
The findings indicate that Set Saxmundham School remains inadequate and continues to have serious weaknesses. While leaders have made some progress in improving the school, further efforts are necessary to address the concerns identified. The school must implement more effective strategies to tackle the low attendance rates of a minority of pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), who are frequently absent.
Since the previous inspection, the trust has taken steps to enhance leadership capacity. A new leadership team has been established, with key appointments made, including a new head of school and additional senior leaders. This restructuring has led to a more stable staffing situation, which has positively impacted pupils' experiences. However, there is a pressing need to accelerate improvements in the quality of education provided.
The school has begun reviewing its curriculum, but it is not yet coherent across all subjects, which hampers pupils' ability to achieve their full potential. While teachers are expected to follow minimum planning standards and receive ongoing training, there are inconsistencies in how effectively they check pupils' understanding during lessons. The leadership team recognizes the need for further training to ensure that all teachers can effectively assess and support learning.
Support for pupils with SEND has improved, with staff receiving training to better identify and address these students' needs. However, inconsistencies remain in the application of this support, and leaders have yet to establish a robust monitoring process to evaluate its effectiveness.
Behavioral expectations have been raised, resulting in a calmer learning environment with less disruption. Pupils report feeling safer and more connected to the school community. Despite these improvements, attendance remains a concern, particularly for a minority of pupils, including those with SEND. Overall attendance has declined since the last inspection, and while the pandemic has contributed to this issue, it is clear that more needs to be done to ensure that all pupils receive their full education.
The personal development curriculum has been revised to address previous shortcomings, and it now meets statutory requirements. However, while pupils are beginning to remember more content, gaps in their knowledge persist, indicating that a deeper understanding of the material has yet to be achieved.
The school is considered a safe environment for pupils, with fewer serious incidents reported. Leaders maintain close communication with relevant agencies regarding safeguarding concerns, and pupils feel comfortable voicing any issues they encounter.
The trust has improved its governance and leadership structures, providing better support and challenge to school leaders. Regular engagement with pupils allows trustees to gain insights into their experiences, particularly regarding the PSHE curriculum.
In summary, while Set Saxmundham School has made some progress since the last inspection, significant work remains to address the identified weaknesses. The leadership team is aware of the challenges ahead and is committed to implementing the necessary changes to improve the quality of education and overall experience for all pupils.
