Ipsley CofE Middle School

Overview

Ipsley C of E Middle School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The report describes a “calm and purposeful” environment where pupils feel safe, are happy, and demonstrate good attendance. Leaders have successfully maintained high expectations for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), ensuring they “learn well” across a “broad and ambitious curriculum.”

Strengths

• Staff provide a “high quality of pastoral care,” forging “warm working relationships” that ensure pupils “feel safe” and know there is “always an adult to turn to.”
• The curriculum is “carefully” planned with “manageable steps” and key vocabulary, helping pupils “build new knowledge” and use skills in oracy, literacy, and numeracy effectively.
• Pupils with SEND are supported promptly and make “strong progress through the full curriculum,” aided by targeted interventions such as phonics teaching for weaker readers.
• The school uses additional funding for disadvantaged pupils well, resulting in improved outcomes, while the trust provides effective support for curriculum planning and subject leaders.
• Pupils are “very well prepared for high school,” developing confidence, independence, and respect for others through a wide range of clubs and leadership opportunities.

Areas to improve

• The school must address “inconsistency about how fully the school’s expectations are embedded in some classrooms,” which prevents some pupils from being “fully focused” and learning as effectively as they should.

Safeguarding

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