Coombe Dean School

Overview

The report describes a school where leaders have established a "broad, ambitious and high quality" curriculum and an "inclusive culture" that supports all pupils. While safeguarding standards are met and teaching is effective, the report notes that governance has not yet applied "robust oversight and challenge to all aspects of the school’s work," and some pupils struggle to recall personal development learning over time.

Strengths

• The curriculum is "broad, ambitious and high quality," with subject leaders refining teaching sequences so pupils "build on their prior learning."
• Teachers "explain concepts clearly" and effectively check understanding to address gaps, ensuring pupils with barriers receive "high-quality support."
• There is an "inclusive culture" where staff are "highly ambitious for all pupils," providing effective personalised support for those with special educational needs.
• Disadvantaged pupils "achieve particularly well compared to their disadvantaged peers nationally," with leaders successfully closing the attainment gap.
• The careers provision is a strength, offering impartial advice and work experience that is "raising pupils’ aspirations for the future."

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure the personal development curriculum enables pupils to "recall their learning about relationships, healthy lifestyles, cultures and religions."
• Leaders should "further embed the effective teaching strategies" introduced to ensure pupils’ achievement continues to rise.
• Those responsible for governance should ensure they "robustly support and challenge leaders across all aspects of the school’s work."

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing "an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are actively identified and managed.