Thomas Telford School

Overview

Pupils “flourish” at Thomas Telford School, where a “culture of high expectations permeates every aspect of school life.” The report highlights that pupils “rise to the academic challenge” and benefit from a “broad and varied” curriculum that prepares them well for future studies. Leaders work closely with parents to ensure pupils develop into “successful young adults.”

Strengths

• The curriculum is “highly ambitious” and “impressively planned,” enabling pupils to make “exceptionally strong progress” and produce work of a “very high standard.”
• Pupils’ behaviour is “exemplary,” with students showing a “hunger and desire to learn” and acting “mature and respectful” during social times.
• Teachers use subject knowledge “highly effectively,” employing “strong modelling” and questioning to check understanding and pinpoint gaps.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are “extremely well supported,” allowing them to be “well integrated into school life.”
• Personal development is “exceptionally strong,” with a “rich and extensive” careers programme and numerous extracurricular opportunities.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure staff use attendance codes consistently when pupils are sent home for poor behaviour, so governors have “clear oversight” of attendance.
• The behaviour policy requires review to “accurately reflect the interventions” put in place to support pupils.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with appropriate checks carried out on staff and timely support provided to pupils who need help.