Thornfield House School

Overview

The inspection was severely limited by industrial action, meaning the ETI was “unable to assure” parents of the quality of education provided. While most teaching staff did not cooperate, the report notes that parents expressed “high levels of satisfaction” with staff support, though the overall effectiveness could not be fully evaluated.

Strengths

• Parents reported “high levels of satisfaction with the staff and the support for their children.”
• Staff questionnaire responses emphasised “pastoral care towards the pupils” and “collaborative working.”
• Pupils report that they “feel safe in the school” and know how to raise safety concerns.
• The school is “appropriately reviewing the range and effectiveness of assessments” used to track pupil progress.

Areas to improve

• The curriculum offer for post-primary pupils requires review to ensure it is “sufficiently broad” and reflects pupil needs.
• There is a “lack of effective curriculum links with other neighbouring schools” to provide broader subject access and social opportunities.
• Governance requires improvement, including completing recruitment training and providing “greater challenge and support to the leadership.”

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding arrangements were “unsatisfactory” at the time of inspection, requiring urgent improvements to governor training and policy compliance, though a follow-up visit confirmed they now “reflect broadly the guidance.”