Campion School

Inspection of Campion School Bugbrooke, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN7 3QG

p.1

Inspection dates: 9 and 10 November 2021

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Sixth-form provision Good Previous inspection grade Requires improvement 9 and 10 November 2021

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

Staff at Campion have high expectations of all pupils at the school, including those in the sixth form. There is an ambition that all pupils can achieve academically. As suggested by the school’s hashtag, pupils and staff are proud to be Campion.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils behave well in lessons. They show courtesy and respect in the corridors by opening doors for others. Bullying is rare at this school, but when it does occur, teachers take it very seriously.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders have revised the curriculum so that all pupils can study a broad range of academic subjects, including at least one modern foreign language. There are opportunities in all year groups to take on leadership roles, such as being an anti- bullying ambassador or head student. The aim of this is to create brilliant futures for Campion pupils.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

There are good relationships between staff and pupils. Pupils can talk to staff with ease, and pupils say that they feel safe at school.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

Older pupils and staff agree that this school has improved significantly in the last few years. They value the culture and environment leaders have created. This is helping pupils learn.

p.2

better?

Leaders have redesigned the curriculum so that all pupils can study a core set of academic subjects. In most subjects, including modern foreign languages (MFL) and mathematics, leaders have identified the important knowledge pupils must learn, and the order in which they should be taught it. This ensures that pupils have the opportunity to know and remember more. This is not the case in all subjects. For example, in history it is not routinely clear what pupils should have learned at the end of each key stage. In English, teachers do not always explicitly teach the most important knowledge. When this is the case, pupils do not consistently build up their knowledge over time.

p.2

better?

The ‘Campion Teaching and Learning Rubric’ makes clear what each lesson should include. As a result, in most lessons, teachers present subject matter clearly and check understanding before moving on. In these lessons, pupils know and remember more. In some lessons, teachers do not check that all pupils understand concepts securely before they introduce new ideas. In these lessons, pupils are left remembering knowledge that is not correct.

p.2

better?

Leaders have improved the provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). All staff have been trained on how to make the curriculum more accessible for pupils with SEND. Most teachers know the needs of individual pupils and how these can be met differently. Pupils with SEND can access 9 and 10 November 2021

p.2

3

the full curriculum and achieve as well as their peers. A new leader has been appointed to further strengthen SEND provision.

p.3

3

Reading has been prioritised. Pupils read selected texts in ‘drop everything and read’ (DEAR) lessons. Pupils also have time to read books they choose. This is developing a love of reading for many pupils. Those at the early stages of reading gain phonics knowledge and comprehension skills to give them the foundation for future learning.

p.3

3

Sixth-form students show high levels of maturity and independence. They play an active part in the school. For example, they buddy read with younger pupils. A high proportion of students complete their study programme successfully. A very high proportion of these students go to their first-choice university.

p.3

3

There is a consistent approach to managing pupils’ behaviour. Pupils understand the ‘Warn, Move, Remove’ system. There is very little disruption in lessons as a result. Pupils know that poor behaviour will result in a consequence.

p.3

3

For pupils who struggle with being at school, the Bridge provides a safe space, where these pupils can continue to learn. Staff support pupils with their learning. In most cases, this support enables pupils to return to the classroom.

p.3

3

The personal development programme helps pupils to prepare to become great global citizens. Pupils are taught about staying safe and healthy relationships. From year 7, pupils receive effective careers advice and guidance. Pupils can attend a range of activities to develop their wider interests, including theatre critique club and kick boxing. Staff encourage pupils to contribute to the life of the school, including through being mental health ambassadors or as reading mentors.

p.3

3

Trustees know the strengths of the school. They work in partnership with senior leaders to identify accurately where improvements are needed. Leaders are receptive to the challenge that trustees provide. Leaders sharply focus on areas of improvement and bring about rapid change when needed.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Leaders and trustees understand their safeguarding responsibilities. They have made sure that there are staff at many levels with the highest level of safeguarding training. This allows pupils to report concerns to staff who they feel most comfortable with. These members of staff are well equipped to help pupils.

p.3

Safeguarding

Staff are trained and reminded regularly on how to recognise and report concerns about pupils. As a result, staff know what to look out for and how to report a concern.

p.3

Safeguarding

Pupils are also taught about local and national safeguarding issues. This helps them recognise what is safe and what is not. 9 and 10 November 2021

p.3

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 In a few subjects, leaders have not ensured that important knowledge is clearly identified and how this knowledge builds to an end point. In some lessons in these subjects, teachers do not teach this knowledge explicitly enough. As a result, some pupils do not remember this knowledge well enough. Leaders should ensure that all teachers know how to identify and teach the most important knowledge in a way that students can reach clearly defined end points.  Leaders have not ensured that all teachers check that pupils’ understanding is secure before they move learning on in lessons. On occasions, teachers introduce new ideas without having first corrected any misconceptions pupils may have developed. As a result, these pupils do not develop secure understanding of concepts that are taught before encountering new learning. Leaders must ensure that all teachers know how to check pupils’ understanding and address

p.4

How can I feed back my views?

or to find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

p.4

How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

p.4

How can I feed back my views?

If you are the school and you are not happy with the inspection or the report, you can complain to Ofsted .

p.4

Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

p.4

Further information

In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ refers to those pupils who attract government pupil premium funding: pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years and pupils in care or who left care through adoption or another formal route. 9 and 10 November 2021

p.4

School details

Inspection number 10200165 Type of school Secondary comprehensive

p.5

provision

Number of pupils on the school roll 1192

p.5

sixth form

Date of previous inspection 25 March 2021, under section 8 of the Education Act 2005

p.5

Information about this school

 A new headteacher was appointed in September 2019.  The school provides alternative education provision for a small number of pupils at Northampton Schools Tutorial Centre and Northampton Saints Hitz.  The school meets the requirements of the Baker Clause. This means that pupils in Years 8 to 13 receive information about the full range of education and training options open to them. This includes opportunities for a range of education and training providers to speak to pupils about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships. 9 and 10 November 2021

p.5

Information about this inspection

The inspectors carried out this inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

p.6

Information about this inspection

This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with school leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation.

p.6

Information about this inspection

 Inspectors carried out deep dives in science, mathematics, English, history, religious education and modern foreign languages. For each deep dive, they met with curriculum leaders, visited lessons, looked at pupils’ workbooks, spoke with pupils and met with teachers of the lessons they visited.  Inspectors visited lessons and reviewed curriculum plans from a wider range of subjects.  Inspectors met with groups of pupils from key stages 3 and 4. They spoke with pupils informally and observed the behaviour of pupils during social times.  Inspectors met with groups of sixth-form students and the leader of the sixth form.  Inspectors met with the leader for whole-school literacy and those responsible for SEND.  To consider the school’s safeguarding procedures, the lead inspector met with the designated safeguarding lead. The lead inspector also looked at documentation relating to safeguarding and the school’s single central register. All inspectors

p.6

Information about this inspection

spoke with staff and pupils about safeguarding.  The lead inspector met with a group of trustees including the chair.  Inspectors spoke on the telephone to representatives of the alternative provider the school uses.  Inspectors took into account the 201 responses to Ofsted’s online questionnaire. They also considered the 111 responses to the survey for staff.  Inspectors reviewed a range of documentation, including the school’s self- evaluation, improvement plan, minutes from trustee board meetings and information concerning pupils’ attendance, behaviour and exclusions.

p.6

Inspection team

Rakesh Patel, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

p.6

Inspection team

Shazia Lydon Ofsted Inspector 9 and 10 November 2021

p.6

7

Laura Rowe Ofsted Inspector 9 and 10 November 2021

p.7

8

regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

8

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.8

8

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

8

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

8

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8