Ofsted conducted a monitoring inspection of Benfield School on June 19, 2024, following two successive judgments of requires improvement. The purpose of this inspection was to assess the progress made by the school since its last graded inspection, rather than to assign an overall effectiveness grade. The inspection involved discussions with the headteacher, senior leaders, the chief executive officer of the trust, and governors, as well as classroom visits and reviews of improvement plans.
The findings indicate that while progress has been made, further work is necessary for the school to achieve a good rating. Changes in staffing have been effective, particularly in areas such as attendance and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). A restructured team is now focused on improving attendance, and additional leaders have been appointed in the SEND department to enhance support for pupils with additional needs. As a result, pupils with SEND are making better progress through the curriculum. A new leader for personal, social, and health education (PSHE) has also been appointed, contributing to the development of a more enriched curriculum that includes guest speakers and educational visits.
The school is working towards a more ambitious curriculum, with improvements in teaching and assessment evident. An increasing number of pupils are demonstrating better retention and application of knowledge. Staff training has been prioritized to support pupils with SEND, leading to greater confidence among teachers in adapting learning for these students. However, despite these improvements, the outcomes for pupils in the 2023 public examinations were significantly below national averages. The school has analyzed this data and incorporated the findings into its improvement plans, recognizing that the capacity to support stronger outcomes is improving, but that the 2023 cohort had less time to benefit from these changes.
The improvement plans are focused on the right areas, with support from a trust-appointed school improvement partner. Trustees and governors are actively involved in monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of these plans. There has been a notable increase in pupil attendance, and suspensions have decreased over time, indicating improvements in behavior due to timely interventions. The school is also enhancing its relationships with the wider community through improved communication strategies and relational practices, leading to increased parent and carer engagement at school events and a reduction in complaints.
However, some milestones in the improvement planning could be more ambitious, as they do not consistently reflect the aims discussed during the visit. Additionally, the improvements to the PSHE curriculum are not as developed as other areas, with some pupils still lacking knowledge about respecting diverse values and beliefs. A new PSHE curriculum is set to launch in September, which aims to address these gaps.
The school has partnered with a neighboring school to develop subject leadership and improve pupil outcomes in public examinations. This collaboration is also focused on enhancing the quality of PSHE education. Overall, while there are positive developments at Benfield School, continued efforts are needed to ensure that all areas of the school meet the required standards for improvement.
