Bishop Douglass School Finchley

Overview

Leaders and staff are “ambitious for their pupils” with “high expectations in all aspects of school life.” The school offers a “broad and ambitious curriculum” that supports strong progress, particularly through carefully ordered knowledge and regular feedback. Pupils are described as “courteous and respectful,” benefiting from a supportive environment that includes extensive extra-curricular learning and effective safeguarding arrangements.

Strengths

• Teachers have “thought carefully about the important knowledge pupils need to learn,” ensuring it is “carefully ordered” to facilitate progress.
• Pupils receive “detailed feedback which helps them to improve their work” and benefit from a “significant programme of extra learning.”
• Behaviour is excellent, with lessons being “calm and ordered” and bullying being “rare.”
• The school provides a “comprehensive careers programme” and well-planned PSHE, helping pupils develop skills for life after school.
• Safeguarding arrangements are “effective,” with a “strong safeguarding culture” where concerns are dealt with “sensitively” and quickly.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure staff apply strategies for pupils with SEND “consistently across the school,” as current monitoring has not guaranteed this.
• Leaders should “reduce the use of internal exclusion” to prevent gaps in learning for pupils who miss full curriculum access.
• Leaders need to ensure all staff have “high ambitions for pupils of all abilities” so that every group makes strong progress.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” noting that staff receive regular training and pupils are actively encouraged to report concerns.