Ofsted conducted a monitoring inspection of Sir William Stanier Community School on 19 October 2023, following three successive judgments of requires improvement. The purpose of this inspection was to assess the progress made by the school since its last graded inspection. The findings indicate that while some progress has been made, the school continues to require improvement.
The inspection revealed that the school has undergone significant changes in leadership and governance. A new head of school was appointed in July 2022, and the school is now part of The Learning Partnership Academies Trust, which was formed from a merger in September 2023. The local governing body has seen changes in its membership, and there is a clear commitment from all stakeholders to address the identified weaknesses in education quality and pupil behavior.
The school has made strides in promoting a culture of reflection and improvement among staff. Teachers feel supported and are encouraged to collaborate, which has fostered a positive working environment. The curriculum has been revised to be more ambitious, and staff have received training to enhance their teaching practices. This has led to some improvements in pupil learning, with many students reporting that they find the new approaches beneficial.
However, the inspection highlighted that these improvements are not consistent across all subjects and year groups. While some teachers have effectively implemented new strategies, others are still in the early stages of applying their training. The school is working to ensure that assessment strategies are effectively identifying gaps in pupils' knowledge, but this remains uneven. Consequently, while many pupils are aware of their learning objectives, they do not consistently receive feedback that addresses their knowledge gaps.
The school has also focused on supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and those who speak English as an additional language (EAL). Staff have received training to better understand and meet the needs of these pupils, leading to some positive outcomes. However, the achievement of pupils with SEND remains variable, indicating that further work is needed to ensure all pupils can access the curriculum effectively.
In terms of behavior, the school has established clear expectations and routines that are understood by both staff and pupils. This has resulted in a calm and orderly environment, with pupils generally displaying appropriate behavior in lessons. Staff are well-equipped to manage challenging behavior, and there have been noticeable improvements in this area.
Despite these positive developments, the school must continue to address specific areas for improvement. Leaders need to ensure that assessment strategies are consistently applied to identify knowledge gaps and that support for early reading is tailored to meet the needs of all pupils. The school is in the process of strengthening its approach to early reading, but this work is still in its infancy.
Overall, while Sir William Stanier Community School has made progress since the last inspection, it still requires improvement. The commitment from leaders, staff, and the governing body to address the identified weaknesses is evident, but sustained effort is necessary to ensure that all pupils receive the quality of education they deserve. The school is on a journey of improvement, and with continued focus and support, it has the potential to achieve better outcomes for its students.
