Avanti Gardens School, located in Bristol, has recently undergone its first inspection since opening. The inspection took place on February 6 and 7, 2024, and the school received an overall effectiveness rating of good across all evaluated areas, including the quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. The principal, Harry Penny, leads the school, which is part of the Avanti Schools Trust, overseen by CEO Nitesh Gor and a board of trustees chaired by Michael Younger.
The school fosters a positive learning environment with high expectations for student achievement and conduct. Pupils demonstrate positive attitudes towards learning and adhere to established routines, contributing to a calm and orderly atmosphere. The school celebrates individual and collective achievements, such as through the tradition of flying a winning house flag each term, which promotes cooperation and recognition of each other's strengths.
Pupils are educated about sustainability and civic responsibility, receiving saplings to learn about tree growth and participating in democratic processes by voting for student leaders. This engagement helps them understand leadership and representation. The school also emphasizes the importance of spirituality and moral reasoning, encouraging pupils to discuss philosophical questions and care for their mental and physical well-being through activities like singing and yoga.
The curriculum at Avanti Gardens School is broad and ambitious, designed to build on pupils' prior knowledge and skills. The early years program effectively develops communication and language skills, preparing children for key stage one. Each subject curriculum outlines essential knowledge and skills, although some older pupils, particularly in mathematics, exhibit gaps in their understanding, as reflected in key stage two outcomes that fall below national averages. The school has recognized these gaps and is actively working to address them by revising the curriculum to better support current pupils.
Teachers possess the necessary subject expertise, and their instruction helps pupils retain important information. In the early years, there is a strong focus on vocabulary development, laying a solid foundation for future learning. Pupils begin reading as soon as they join the school, with a well-structured phonics program that matches reading materials to their learning stage. However, the school acknowledges the need to cultivate a stronger culture of reading for enjoyment.
The school effectively identifies the needs of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), providing adequate support for younger students. However, some older pupils with SEND struggle to engage with the curriculum due to insufficiently tailored teaching that does not fully consider their prior knowledge and understanding. The school is committed to improving this aspect of its provision.
Avanti Gardens School has thoughtfully integrated its local context into the curriculum, allowing pupils to learn about local history and diverse faiths through direct engagement with community members. Attendance is generally good, with the school promoting punctuality and taking steps to improve attendance where necessary. While progress has been made, further efforts are needed to ensure all pupils attend regularly.
The school offers a variety of extracurricular activities that nurture pupils' talents and interests, ranging from cooking and martial arts to musical theatre. The personal, social, and health education curriculum is effective, helping pupils develop an understanding of healthy relationships and safety, including online safety.
Trustees play an active role in holding the school accountable and ensuring effective resource management. They have focused on improving the curriculum and have provided professional development opportunities for teachers, resulting in notable enhancements in the quality of education provided to current pupils.
The safeguarding arrangements at Avanti Gardens School are effective, ensuring a safe environment for all pupils. Moving forward, the school aims to implement and assess its new curriculum effectively to ensure that all pupils build secure knowledge and skills over time. Additionally, it seeks to better meet the needs of pupils with SEND by refining its approach to curriculum planning and support. Overall, Avanti Gardens School demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement and the holistic development of its pupils.
