The John Roan School

Overview

The John Roan School is judged as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories, reflecting a ‘strong sense of community’ and a culture of ‘high expectations’. Leaders have successfully created an inclusive environment where pupils behave well and achieve across a broad curriculum, with particular praise for the sixth-form provision and support for pupils with special educational needs.

Strengths

• Pupils benefit from ‘ambitious’ subject curriculums, including a wide range of courses in the sixth form and increased uptake of modern foreign languages.
• Staff possess ‘strong subject knowledge’ and explain concepts well, using purposeful activities to help pupils make sense of their learning.
• The school provides ‘effective support’ for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including a specialist ‘Centre for Autism’.
• Leaders have prioritised attendance management, resulting in ‘disruption free learning’ where pupils settle quickly and respond to instructions.
• Careers guidance is ‘effective’, ensuring pupils are well informed about higher education and apprenticeships, with many sixth-formers gaining places at ‘high-performing universities’.

Areas to improve

• The school must refine staff training to ensure teachers ‘precisely check pupils’ learning’ and adapt teaching accordingly, preventing knowledge from becoming insecure.
• Support for pupils developing reading fluency, including those with SEND, needs review to ensure more staff have the expertise to help them ‘catch up with their peers’.

Safeguarding

The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’, noting that pupils feel safe and can use a ‘QR code’ to alert leaders to concerns.