Dorothy Stringer School

Overview

The report describes a school where staff are “ambitious for all pupils” and dedicated to inclusivity, resulting in improving outcomes and high expectations for behaviour. While many pupils feel “cared for and safe” and enjoy a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, the inspection identifies inconsistencies in curriculum implementation and attendance issues for specific groups.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “ambitious and wide ranging,” with knowledgeable staff carefully sequencing content to help pupils become “confident and fluent readers.”
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive tailored support, enabling them to “enjoy learning and achieve well.”
• There is a “broad and detailed curriculum” for personal, social and health education, including age-appropriate lessons on consent and safety that pupils value.
• Staff feel “well supported by leaders” and are passionate about providing a “well-rounded education,” with governors offering both support and challenge.
• Extensive clubs and activities, such as sports and the annual school production, enrich pupils’ experiences and allow them to “develop and celebrate a range of talents.”

Areas to improve

• The school must ensure school policies are “implemented consistently across the school” to reduce variability in curriculum delivery and expected conduct.
• Leaders must carefully monitor actions to improve attendance, as some groups are “not attending school as regularly as they should” and risk falling behind.
• The school must evaluate how it communicates with pupils to assure those concerned about “low-level disruption” that their issues are handled appropriately.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”