Graveney School

Inspection of Graveney School Welham Road, Tooting, London SW17 9BU

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Inspection dates: 30 November and 1 December 2022

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Sixth-form provision Outstanding Previous inspection grade Outstanding

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

Until November 2020, the school was exempt from routine inspection because it was judged as outstanding at its previous inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. The school has not been inspected since March 2015. 30 November and 1 December 2022

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What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders have high ambitions for pupils. They expect all pupils to achieve highly in school. Leaders work with school staff to ensure that pupils can achieve their potential. As a result, pupils flourish here.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary. They are supportive and caring towards each other. Pupils are polite and show respect to others. Pupils have high aspirations. They appreciate the support and encouragement they receive from leaders and teachers.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are safe here. They speak to leaders and teachers if they are worried about anything. Some pupils said the school’s well-being centre is a place where they can talk about their feelings. Leaders provide opportunities to support pupils’ personal development. For example, pupils take part in workshops about equality and the importance of positive thinking. They make use of the school’s well-being centre. On the rare occasions that any bullying happens, leaders deal with it swiftly.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils benefit from a range of wider opportunities. Leaders provide an extensive programme of extra-curricular clubs. This is because they want pupils to explore their passions and interests. All pupils in Year 7 take part in the ‘Big Sing’ concert. A high proportion of pupils in Year 7 attend an annual educational visit to Snowdonia.

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better?

Pupils study a broad range of subjects in depth from Year 7 to Year 11. There is an extensive choice of subjects on offer in the sixth form. Leaders ensure the curriculum caters for a wide range of interests and potential career pathways for students.

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better?

Teachers check that pupils understand what they have been taught. Pupils remember essential subject knowledge. They use this knowledge to learn new concepts. For example, in Year 13, students in A-level sociology use their knowledge of discrimination and privilege to consider the reasons for differences in achievement in schools.

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better?

Leaders and teachers have strong subject knowledge. They have thought about the important knowledge pupils should know and remember. Leaders sequence this knowledge effectively so that pupils build their knowledge and skills. For example, pupils in Year 7 onwards learn to compose music in different ways. This helps them know more so they get better at composing music in Year 11.

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better?

Pupils are enthusiastic about learning and arrive ready to learn. Lessons are calm and free from disruption.

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better?

Leaders organise exceptional opportunities for pupils’ personal development. Pupils take part in many wider curriculum experiences including in music, art and sport. Each pupil is in a ‘house team’. Leaders arrange many inter-house competitions, 30 November and 1 December 2022

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including sports events, talent competitions and quiz games. Many pupils enjoy taking part. Students in the sixth form produce and organise various performances for the whole school.

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Pupils enjoy the challenge of taking on leadership responsibility. Pupils take on roles such as school council representatives and house prefects who help organise house- team events. Many pupils in Year 9 also enjoy taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s bronze award. Pupils are widely involved in the local community. For example, they support food banks and refugee groups. Students in the sixth form help pupils with reading in local primary schools.

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School staff are skilled in adapting learning to support pupils’ individual needs. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders identify pupils with SEND quickly and provide appropriate support. Leaders provide prompt and effective help for pupils who are at risk of falling behind, especially in English and mathematics. Sixth-form mentors provide literacy and numeracy support for selected pupils in Year 7. Pupils across the school read for the pleasure of doing so.

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Leaders create an effective careers programme. This ensures all pupils are well informed about their next steps. Leaders arrange for employers and apprenticeship providers to speak to pupils regularly. Leaders organise a successful work experience programme in Years 11 and 13. Students in the sixth form are very well prepared for higher education and employment. Pupils value this support.

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Staff feel valued and supported by leaders in managing their workload. The governing body has a strong understanding of the school’s work. It effectively challenges school leaders. This is to ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of pupils. The governing body carries out its responsibilities thoroughly.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders have established a supportive safeguarding culture. Staff are trained to identify pupils at risk from harm. Leaders and staff take any concerns seriously and follow these up thoroughly. Pupils are taught about keeping safe and the importance of healthy relationships. They know who to speak to if they have any concerns and they feel comfortable doing so.

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Safeguarding

Pupils’ mental health is treated as a priority. Pupils receive strong support in managing the pressures which they may face. For example, where needed, pupils can make use of the school’s Wellbeing Centre and access counselling support.

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How can I feed back my views?

or to find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted 30 November and 1 December 2022

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Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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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. 30 November and 1 December 2022

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School details

Inspection number 10242505 Type of school Secondary comprehensive

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provision

Number of pupils on the school roll 2,200

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sixth form

Appropriate authority The governing body

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sixth form

Date of previous inspection 17 to 18 March 2015, under section 5 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The current principal has been in post since 2019.  The school uses two registered providers for alternative provision.  The school meets the requirements of the Baker Clause, which requires schools to provide pupils in Years 8 to 13 with information about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships.

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Information about this inspection

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

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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 leaders 30 November and 1 December 2022

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and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in the following subjects: English, mathematics, history, modern foreign languages and music. For each deep dive, inspectors discussed the curriculum with subject leaders, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.  Inspectors also visited lessons in other subjects.  Inspectors met with the principal and other senior leaders. Inspectors met with members of the local governing body, including the chair of governors, and members of the trust.  The inspection team looked at the school’s curriculum planning, records of pupils’ attendance and behaviour, careers support and information about extra-curricular activities and enrichment.  Inspectors spoke with leaders, pupils and staff about safeguarding arrangements at the school. They looked at safeguarding records, policies and procedures.

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Inspectors also checked the record of pre-employment checks.  Inspectors considered the responses to Ofsted’s online surveys for parents, pupils and staff.

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Inspection team

Laurence King, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

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Inspection team

Nigel Clemens Ofsted Inspector 30 November and 1 December 2022

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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.

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