Heronshaw School

Overview

The report describes a school where staff “put [pupils] at the heart of everything they do” and maintain “high expectations for all.” Pupils benefit from a “broad and rich curriculum” and demonstrate “exemplary” behaviour, creating an environment where they are “happy and feel safe.”

Strengths

• Pupils’ “behaviour is exemplary,” with bullying being “extremely rare and never tolerated.”
• Leaders have designed a curriculum that is “carefully sequenced,” particularly in mathematics and science, helping to secure knowledge in “long-term memory.”
• Early years provision is strong, with children learning phonics through a “systematic and structured teaching approach.”
• Staff adapt lessons skilfully to include everyone, especially those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• Leaders provide “meaningful spiritual, moral, social and cultural experiences,” ensuring pupils understand that “we are all different and that makes us unique.”

Areas to improve

• In subjects such as geography, the teaching of component knowledge is “not yet consistent,” meaning some pupils do not achieve as well as intended.
• Oversight of provision for pupils with SEND is “not as forensic as it should be,” and records do not always reflect the high-quality provision received or fully incorporate parents’ views.
• Some vulnerable pupils remain “persistently absent,” missing out on important learning and risking falling behind their peers.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a “strong culture of safeguarding” and clear systems to identify pupils at risk of harm.