Perton Middle School

Overview

Perton Middle School continues to be a good school, described as a ‘warm and welcoming’ environment where pupils ‘enjoy coming to school’. Leaders have established a ‘broad and ambitious curriculum’ that supports strong pupil progress and character development, including resilience and positive relationships.

Strengths

• Pupils ‘behave very well’ and ‘model leaders’ high expectations’, demonstrating resilience and understanding that ‘making mistakes is part of the learning process’.
• The curriculum is carefully planned with ‘small steps’ mapped to ensure knowledge builds sensibly, helping pupils ‘build strong mental models’ of challenging concepts.
• Teachers are ‘rapidly becoming experts in their subjects’, allowing them to identify misconceptions and ‘adapt their teaching quickly to fill any gaps in knowledge’.
• A ‘culture of reading’ is growing, with a well-stocked library and effective interventions for pupils with gaps in phonic knowledge.
• Leaders promote personal development through programmes like ‘Accept, Respect and Celebrate’, ensuring diversity is celebrated and pupils receive valuable information about the world of work.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure teachers have the necessary information to adapt the curriculum for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), as current provisions limit their progress.
• Safeguarding records of concerns lack sufficient detail regarding the concern, discussions, and decisions made, risking delayed help for pupils.
• Governors should ‘closely monitor the effectiveness and impact of the work of leaders’ to ensure an accurate view of the school’s strengths and weaknesses.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff receiving ongoing training and remaining vigilant to risks, although leaders have been slow to improve the quality of record-keeping.