John Spendluffe Foundation Technology College

Overview

Leaders have created a “caring and inclusive school” where pupils behave well and feel safe. The curriculum is “ambitious” and well-sequenced, with teachers using effective assessment to help pupils embed knowledge. Most pupils achieve well, supported by a strong personal development programme and extra-curricular activities.

Strengths

• Teachers possess “secure subject knowledge” and use “effective activities” to deliver a well-sequenced curriculum that builds on previous learning.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have “full access to the curriculum” and receive appropriate support to learn well.
• The personal development programme helps pupils “understand and respect others,” while the careers programme provides “appropriate independent careers advice.”
• Staff feel “well supported by leaders,” and governors “hold leaders to account effectively.”
• Retrieval activities at the start of lessons help pupils “remember key content,” leading to confidence in applying what they have learned.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must refine strategies to ensure “all pupils have high rates of attendance,” as some miss out on learning due to irregular attendance.
• Leaders need to develop a “more rigorous approach” to reading, ensuring a “well-structured programme” helps pupils at early stages become fluent readers.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a “strong culture of safeguarding and care” where staff are well trained and pupils know how to report concerns.