Shaftesbury High School

Overview

Shaftesbury High School is described as a "warm and welcoming" environment where pupils feel "safe and well supported." The report highlights "exemplary" behaviour and an "exceptional" provision for personal development, noting that staff are deeply committed to helping pupils with complex needs achieve well. Since the previous inspection, leaders have taken "robust action" to strengthen the school, resulting in significant improvements across all key judgement areas.

Strengths

• Pupils display "exemplary" behaviour, creating a "calm, respectful environment where learning can flourish."
• The curriculum is "well-structured" and "personalised," using precise targets from education, health and care plans to meet individual needs.
• Personal development is "exceptional," with "rich and meaningful experiences" such as community visits and work experience preparing pupils for adulthood.
• Staff provide "expert phonics teaching" and prioritise reading, helping pupils build essential language skills and move towards accreditations.
• Sixth-form students are "well prepared for their futures" through programmes promoting independence, including travel training and enterprise activities.

Areas to improve

• In "a few wider curriculum subjects," aspects of curriculum design are "not fully embedded," which can affect how well pupils develop a "secure understanding."

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."