The Ferrers School

Overview

The report describes a school where leaders have a clear vision and have made significant progress in behaviour and inclusion since recent changes. While pupils are happy and feel safe, the quality of teaching is variable, leading to inconsistent achievement, particularly at key stage 4.

Strengths

• Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."
• Behaviour has improved significantly, with "calm and orderly" classrooms and rare incidents of bullying.
• The school is inclusive, with staff providing "individualised curriculum adaptations" and effective pastoral care for vulnerable pupils.
• Sixth-form provision is strong, with students making progress "in line with national averages" and receiving high-quality guidance.
• Staff value the support provided for their wellbeing and benefit from "high-quality professional learning."

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure teachers "routinely check pupils’ understanding" to identify gaps and misconceptions, as current assessment is not precise enough.
• The curriculum needs to give more priority to "fundamental British values" and different faiths and cultures, as pupils’ understanding of these themes is currently "insecure."
• Leaders should ensure pupils achieve well and produce work of "high quality across the curriculum," particularly at key stage 4 where achievement remains below national averages.

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding standards are met, noting that leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer.