Rossett School

Overview

Rossett School is described as a “happy, welcoming and inclusive” environment where pupils feel safe and supported. The report highlights significant improvements since the previous inspection, noting that pupils “increasingly flourish in this calm and orderly learning environment” and that the school has high expectations for achievement.

Strengths

• Teachers possess “strong subject knowledge” and “skilfully show pupils what effective work looks like,” ensuring clear task explanations and regular checks for understanding.
• The curriculum is “well-designed,” enabling pupils to engage in “mature discussions” about important topics, such as Britain’s parliamentary system and personal safety.
• Staff prioritise support for vulnerable pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), who access the curriculum alongside peers.
• Reading is a key focus, with targeted support for less confident readers and initiatives like “drop everything and listen” sessions promoting reading for pleasure.
• Pupils benefit from a “wide range of extra-curricular opportunities,” including trips, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and an active student council.

Areas to improve

• The recently restructured pastoral team’s work is not yet fully embedded; the school must ensure targeted support has a “demonstrable impact on the behaviour and engagement of a small minority of harder-to-reach pupils” who have high suspension rates or low attendance.
• Some SEND support strategies “lack precision” and do not capture pupils’ specific needs well enough; the school should review guidance to ensure staff develop a “deeper understanding” so these pupils achieve as well as they can.

Safeguarding

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