Broomhill Bank School

Overview

Broomhill Bank School continues to be a good school, described as “impressive and improving” with a strong sense of community across its two sites. Pupils are “openly proud” of their school, feeling safe and “understood” by staff, while leaders demonstrate effective self-evaluation and honest improvement planning. The inspection confirms that the school’s high ambitions and positive culture are driving rapid progress for all pupils.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “ever evolving” and meets the needs of all pupils well, including disadvantaged students, through “three flexible pathways” that staff constantly review and adjust.
• Staff successfully support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, using strategies like “well-directed questions” and “appropriately targeted humour” to motivate and engage learners.
• Personal development is a high priority, with pupils showing a “clear understanding of how their own actions and reactions impact on others” and actively promoting the school’s values.
• Leadership is effective at all levels, with governors who “know the school well” and are “not afraid to ask difficult questions,” contributing to a “solidly good school that is improving rapidly.”

Areas to improve

• Some staff are “less attuned to pupils’ needs ‘in the moment’” and do not move learning on quickly enough when opportunities arise, causing the pace of learning to slow.
• On occasion, pupils are “less clear about what they are learning and why,” meaning their knowledge and understanding do not progress as consistently as they could.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.