Caldicot School

Overview

Caldicot School is an 11 to 18 mixed comprehensive with an interim senior leadership team focused on improving teaching and learning. The report highlights a positive ethos and good standards, but notes that strategic planning for wellbeing and consistent behaviour management require strengthening.

Strengths

• Staff promote a positive ethos based on "honesty, tolerance, and respect," fostering good relationships with pupils.
• The special needs resource base provides a "high level of sensitive and caring support," helping pupils integrate successfully.
• Many teachers plan lessons well, offering "clear explanations" and maintaining a suitable pace to capture pupils' interest.
• Pupils make strong progress in subject knowledge, with many developing "suitable resilience and independence."
• The school offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities and opportunities to develop Welsh heritage and culture.

Areas to improve

• Improve outcomes for pupils in key stage 4 and the sixth form, particularly addressing the decline in performance indicators.
• Ensure all staff apply behaviour and anti-bullying policies consistently, addressing concerns from some older pupils.
• Strengthen self-evaluation and strategic planning for improving pupils’ wellbeing, which is currently "not rigorous enough."

Safeguarding

Safeguarding procedures meet requirements and there are no significant areas for concern, although a few health and safety matters were raised during the inspection.