Duke of Lancaster School

Overview

The report describes a school where leaders have acted quickly to improve practice, resulting in rising attendance and improved pupil achievement. Most aspects of the school’s work are judged to be at the ‘Expected standard’, with specific areas of achievement and teaching requiring attention. The inspection highlights a calm environment where pupils feel safe and are well-supported in their learning.

Strengths

• Leaders are ‘tenacious about finding ways to help pupils return to learning’, resulting in attendance that is now ‘in line with similar schools’.
• The school is ‘generally calm’, with a ‘significant reduction in incidents involving physical aggression’ due to supportive staff approaches.
• Staff ‘understand pupils’ needs well’, creating detailed plans for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.
• The personal development programme is taught well, helping pupils ‘keep themselves safe’ and prepare for adult life.
• Trustees provide ‘effective challenge and support’, ensuring statutory duties are completed effectively.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure tasks are ‘consistently designed to deepen pupils’ thinking’ and provide opportunities to apply learning.
• Staff should raise expectations around the ‘quality of pupils’ presentation in work across the curriculum’.
• Leaders should continue to ‘build relationships and positive communication with parents and carers’.

Safeguarding

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