St Osmund's Church of England Middle School

Overview

St Osmund’s Church of England Middle School is judged as ‘Good’ overall, with all key inspection areas also rated ‘Good’. Leaders maintain ‘clear and ambitious’ expectations that help pupils make ‘good progress’ in a ‘warm and friendly’ atmosphere. The school provides a broad curriculum and rich extra-curricular opportunities, ensuring most pupils are well-prepared for their studies at upper school.

Strengths

• The curriculum is ‘ambitious’ and ‘promotes equality and diversity’, with leaders ensuring new knowledge builds effectively on prior learning.
• Teachers ‘know the subjects they teach well’ and use probing questions to ‘deepen pupils’ understanding’.
• Reading is a ‘top priority’, with targeted support ensuring pupils who struggle can ‘catch up with their peers’.
• Pupils benefit from a ‘rich education that goes beyond the academic’, including residential trips and inclusive extra-curricular activities.
• Staff and pupils understand and strive to live by the school’s Christian values of ‘hope, community, respect and love’.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure the curriculum ‘enables all pupils with SEND to make the best possible progress’, as their needs are ‘not always considered enough’ during design.
• Leaders need to ensure all pupils are ‘tolerant of their peers and treat them with respect’, particularly during social times, to prevent some from feeling ‘uncomfortable’.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are ‘effective’, with staff receiving regular training and knowing how to spot signs that a pupil may not be safe.