Charles Darwin School

Overview

Leaders have created an inclusive school where the values of ‘aspire, endeavour and achieve’ are central to its work. The report describes a calm and orderly environment where pupils behave well, are polite, and feel safe. Leaders are ambitious for all pupils to succeed, providing an extensive range of academic and vocational courses that cater to diverse needs.

Strengths

• The curriculum is ambitious with topics ‘well sequenced’, ensuring key knowledge and skills are ‘well organised’.
• Teachers build strong relationships with pupils, using subject knowledge to adapt activities and support those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• The arts play an ‘essential role’ in school life, with a high proportion of pupils studying arts subjects and participating in productions.
• Leaders have strengthened routines and behaviour expectations, resulting in a school where ‘learning is not disrupted’.
• Sixth-form students benefit from an ‘individualised approach’, selecting from a wide range of courses and achieving well.

Areas to improve

• Teachers must use assessment strategies more effectively to understand what pupils know and remember from previous learning, addressing gaps in knowledge.
• Leaders should ensure teachers provide frequent opportunities to help pupils ‘embed knowledge in their long-term memory’.
• The further development of careers education has been identified as a priority by leaders.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff suitably trained to recognise risks and leaders diligent in following up concerns promptly.