Bartley Green School

Overview

Leaders have high aspirations for every pupil, who largely achieve these goals within a school characterised by "warm and respectful relationships". The curriculum is described as "broad and ambitious", with a "purposeful atmosphere" that allows most pupils to focus well on their learning.

Strengths

• Leaders have developed an "ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum" for all pupils, including specific enhancements like introducing Spanish.
• Pupils are "happy and safe", valuing the support staff provide and participating in a "rich and diverse" extra-curricular programme.
• Leaders quickly identify pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and provide "effective information" to help teachers adapt their teaching.
• Governance is strong, with leaders having a "clear and precise understanding" of the school and providing "effective challenges and support".
• Personal, social, health and economic education is "well-planned", preparing pupils for challenges in the wider world and future careers.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must implement a "rigorous and sequential approach" to supporting weaker readers, as current plans lack clear systems and training.
• Leaders should ensure all teachers use assessment strategies "consistently" to check what pupils know, preventing gaps in knowledge from persisting.
• Leaders must raise expectations of behaviour for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, reducing instances where they are moved to other classes and disrupting learning.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a culture embedded where all staff report concerns and receive extensive training.