The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection. Starting in post at the beginning of this term, it is impressive how you have rapidly gained the respect of your team and built positive relationships with the pupils. Your drive, passion and determination for the school to offer the very best quality of education and care to the pupils it serves shine through. Indeed, governors describe how the school is currently on a ‘launch pad’ as a result of leaders’ aspirations for it to be outstanding. You are ably supported by your senior leaders, who share your vision for the school and eagerness for it to be the very best. Their leadership is very much respected and valued by staff. Through accurate self-evaluation you, senior leaders and governors possess a clear knowledge of the school’s strengths and are fully aware of what needs to improve, for example, the need to distribute leadership within the school to enable a clear line of monitoring and accountability to secure the best possible progress for pupils. In addition, you know that your most-able pupils are not yet fulfilling their academic potential. You are rapidly securing detailed and robust development plans for how these areas are going to be quickly and effectively resolved. Staff know pupils extremely well and have an unwavering dedication to meeting their academic and pastoral needs. This was exemplified by staff describing how they consider their job to be a vocation and enjoy coming to school each day. As a result, pupils continue to thrive and make strong progress. Most parents speak positively about the school and are highly supportive. However, some express how they would welcome better communication with the school. They would like to have a clearer understanding of how the actions the school takes impact on their child’s learning and development. Nevertheless, there were also many favourable comments such as, ‘This is an amazing school, amazing teachers, I couldn’t be happier with Exeter House, it is fantastic’, ‘The resources and provision are exemplary’ and ‘It is a great school, we are very happy with all that it has to offer’. At the beginning of the inspection, we agreed on the key lines of enquiry to be considered during the day. These included: how the school ensures that pupils are safe; the effectiveness of leaders in ensuring that pupils make good progress; how teaching enables pupils to learn well; and how leaders, including governors, ensure that staff are supported well in their role. These key lines of enquiry are considered below under ‘safeguarding’ and ‘inspection findings’. Safeguarding is effective. You, your staff and governors take a rigorous and consistent approach to safeguarding. The nature of your school means that all pupils are vulnerable in a variety of ways. There is a clear culture that safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility and staff, whatever their role, recognise the need to be vigilant at all times. Leaders are relentless in ensuring that they provide an environment where pupils feel safe and secure. Clear and well-understood procedures ensure that adults know how to refer concerns within school and to outside agencies. Leaders meticulously monitor pupils and are assiduous in following up any concerns, not hesitating to escalate concerns should the need arise. You, other leaders and governors ensure that all safeguarding records are detailed and of high quality. You ensure that staff receive timely and appropriate training on keeping pupils safe. This provides them with the knowledge and skills to identify concerns and take rapid action with confidence. Leaders, including governors, have a clear understanding of the importance of recruiting safely. The records of checks on staff are comprehensive and accurate. Risk assessments are in place for activities undertaken and for individual pupils. Leaders are diligent to make sure they remain fit for purpose. The supportiveness of relationships between staff and pupils is striking. Consequently, pupils report that they are happy and feel safe during their time in school. They describe how staff look after them and support them in tackling any of their worries or concerns. Pupils are aware of what constitutes bullying. They told inspectors that it rarely happens and when it does it is quickly tackled by staff. Consequently, pupils enjoy their time in school, which is evident in their regular attendance.