Dounby Community School

Overview

The inspection team found that children are “expressive, enthusiastic and articulate” and “very proud of their school”. Staff work effectively as a team to foster “positive nurturing relationships” and create an “inclusive, attractive learning environment”. The report evaluates all four quality indicators as “satisfactory” and confirms the school has the capacity to continue to improve without further visits.

Strengths

• Children are “curious and eager in their learning” and demonstrate pride in their school’s history.
• The headteacher and staff “work well together as a team” to support children’s wellbeing and inclusion.
• Staff collaborate effectively with a “wide range of partners” to help children develop important skills.
• Leaders have “effective approaches in place to identify and assist children who require additional support”.

Areas to improve

• Review and develop approaches to “high-quality learning and teaching”, including more rigorous assessment and monitoring of progress.
• Ensure learning across the broad general education “links well with the school’s local context” and allows skills to build progressively.
• Develop approaches to “raise attainment and accelerate children’s progress in literacy and numeracy” with clear, measurable targets.

Safeguarding

The report states that senior leaders and staff have “effective approaches in place to identify and assist children who require additional support with their learning and wellbeing.”