Ofsted visited our school on 27/28 March 2019.

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

 

“This is a good school”

• Since the last inspection, leaders have made bold and difficult decisions to ensure that the school maintains a good quality of education.
• Significant changes to the leadership team and organisation of staff have led to some roles being unclear.

As a result, some planned improvements have not moved forward at the pace leaders would like. For example, partnership work across the two sixth-form sites remains at an early stage.

• Subject leaders are yet to fully define their responsibilities to ensure that planned changes, including the teaching of reading, are implemented effectively.
• Throughout this recent unsettled time, staff continue to put pupils first and to promote high expectations for them. They invest time in working with parents and carers, alongside a range of agencies, to secure the best possible conditions for learning.
• The curriculum is designed effectively around pupils’ needs. Adaptations to learning are made effectively to ensure that pupils make good progress towards their personal goals and aspirations.
• Teachers gather evidence and use assessment well to plot pupils’ improvements and to target their next steps. Most teaching is effective, as learning is relevant to pupils’ precise needs.
• Routines in the early years classes support children to settle and meet high expectations. Activities are carefully chosen to extend and deepen understanding. However, the space and the learning resources outside do not support good learning experiences for children.
• Sixth-form students and their families are supported effectively to prepare for their future lives. As a result, students leave school with well-thought-out and strongly supported pathways for their futures.
• Pupils’ personal development, behaviour and welfare is outstanding. Staff support pupils to attend well, communicate well and behave appropriately.
• Positive relationships and well-organised environments enable pupils to feel, and to be, safe and secure in school. Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

Summary from previous inspection on the 15th March 2018. Overall the school was judged to be a Good School.

Ofsted said Pathfield is a good school because:

• The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection.
• The school buildings and outside area provide a suitably stimulating and varied learning environment.
• Students are well prepared for life after school. Their work in the Church Cafe develops work-based learning skills well and increases student’s social interaction with other people in the community.
• The sixth form (post-16) provision is outstanding and prepares students very well for life beyond school.
• Students are provided with a rounded and interesting range of experiences and activities. Highly detailed monitoring of their progress and development enables adults to make sure that they settle in well and get a cracking start to their education.