Emmanuel Church of England Middle School

Overview

Pupils feel safe and happy at this welcoming school, where high expectations and a nurturing environment help them thrive. The curriculum is broad and ambitious, preparing pupils for their next steps, though leaders are continuing to refine it as much of the content is new. Overall, the school provides a calm, orderly atmosphere with warm relationships between staff and pupils.

Strengths

• Pupils are respectful, keen to learn, and benefit from an effective rewards system that encourages them to ‘do your best’.
• The curriculum helps pupils remember more over time, with strong support for those who cannot read well enough.
• Staff have good subject knowledge in English and mathematics, and teaching usually meets the needs of pupils with special educational needs.
• There are many opportunities for character development, including leadership roles and extra-curricular activities, supported by a comprehensive careers programme.
• Leaders and governors hold each other to account effectively, and staff are well supported.

Areas to improve

• In some subjects, teaching is not supported by strong subject knowledge, meaning pupils’ misconceptions sometimes persist; leaders should ensure all staff have the necessary expertise.
• A small number of pupils do not attend school regularly, preventing them from benefiting fully from the curriculum; leaders need to improve attendance for these pupils.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff well-trained to identify signs of harm and leaders tenacious in securing help for pupils who need it.