Broadstone Middle School

Overview

Broadstone Middle School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at its previous inspection. Pupils enjoy a broad curriculum, including unique subjects like shoe design and pottery, and demonstrate positive attitudes towards learning. The school fosters strong relationships, with pupils described as kind, polite, and helpful, while staff are noted for their pride and strong support for one another.

Strengths

• The curriculum is effective, enabling pupils to build on prior knowledge well in most subject areas, with English being particularly well structured.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive highly effective support, benefiting from nurturing relationships and staff who are proficient in adapting teaching.
• Reading is prioritised across the curriculum, with pupils who struggle receiving appropriate support and all pupils showing enthusiasm for a breadth of texts.
• Behaviour is strong, and the revised behaviour policy has led to a significant fall in the proportion of suspensions.
• Governance is effective, with trustees and governors providing knowledgeable challenge and support, while staff workload and well-being are strongly supported.

Areas to improve

• In a minority of subjects, the curriculum does not build sequentially on pupils’ prior knowledge, meaning pupils do not develop and strengthen their knowledge as well as they could.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.