The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection. You, and the senior leadership team, have continued to lead the school with determination and dedication. All leaders play an important role in the continued success of the school. Subject leaders are knowledgeable. They are enthusiastic and committed to improving their respective subject areas. Staff know the pupils well in this smaller-than-average-sized secondary school and are determined to help them reach their full potential. All the staff who responded to the online survey agreed they are proud to be members of staff. You promote with passion the school’s values of honesty, excellence, accountability, respect and tolerance. The learning environment is warm, welcoming and calm. Pupils enjoy coming to school. They are friendly, polite and show respect for each other and towards adults. Relationships between staff and pupils are strong. Pupils understand about different forms of bullying. They report that should there be any bullying, staff would deal with it. You provide pupils with varied and plentiful enrichment activities. Pupils value their learning community. They explained to the inspectors how much they appreciate the support that teachers and other staff provide. Almost all parents and carers who responded to Parent View are supportive of the school. This is further demonstrated by the school’s popularity and oversubscription. You, leaders at all levels, and teaching staff, have ensured that pupils’ progress overall has continued to improve. Pupils make good progress in a range of subjects. In 2017 and 2018, pupils’ overall progress was above average. By the end of key stage 4, pupils’ attainment is above the national average in many subjects. In English and in mathematics, pupils’ progress is particularly strong, and attainment is above the national average. You have an accurate and realistic understanding of the school’s performance. You know what needs to improve and take effective action to make the improvements needed. The school’s improvement plan, however, could be more effective in supporting leaders and governors in meeting the school’s aims of achieving outstanding outcomes. You have continued to improve the quality of teaching since the previous inspection. You provide teachers and teaching assistants with effective training. Links with other providers help teachers gain a wider perspective on teaching approaches. Teachers appreciate the opportunities provided to develop new skills and teaching expertise. They plan learning which allows pupils to gain a strong grasp of basic knowledge. Teachers do not, however, provide pupils with enough opportunities to take on responsibility for their own learning. At times, pupils do not attempt more challenging activities in a timely manner. You have been successful in improving the areas identified at the previous inspection. Your actions have been most effective in reducing the number of fixedterm exclusions. You have also improved the standards reached by the most able pupils in some subjects. A higher proportion of the most able pupils than in previous years achieved the higher standards in the 2018 examinations. This was especially true in French and in design and technology. You understand, however, this is not yet consistent across the school. Members of the governing body are highly committed to the school. They are passionate about the school’s ethos and values. Governors bring different skills and experiences to their roles. They understand what needs further development and check on pupils’ achievement. Governors are not afraid to have challenging conversations to hold leaders to account. They do not, however, have rigorous systems in place to do this methodically enough. Safeguarding is effective. All safeguarding arrangements are fit for purpose. You have created a very strong culture of safeguarding within the school. Staff know this school community well. They provide pupils with high-quality support to help keep them safe. Life skills lessons and pastoral programmes contribute to pupils’ learning of how to keep themselves safe. Pupils told the inspectors unanimously they feel safe in school. The senior designated teacher for child protection and safeguarding works in harmony with several other designated leaders. They keep themselves, and other staff, well informed about, and trained in, all safeguarding matters. Governors understand the current guidance relating to safeguarding. They make thorough checks to ensure that leaders have implemented the guidance. Arrangements for the safe recruitment of staff are carried out methodically.