St George's School

Inspection of St George's School Sun Lane, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 4TD

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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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The headteacher of this school is Andy Ford. This school is the only school in the Harpenden Academy Trust. The trust is overseen by a board of governors, chaired by John Featherby .

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Until November 2020, the school was exempt from routine inspection because it was judged as outstanding for overall effectiveness at its previous inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. The school has not been inspected under section 5 of the Act since September 2014. Since September 2024, schools have not been awarded an overall effectiveness grade. 11 and 12 March 2025

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils at this school receive an exceptional education. The school, in line with its motto, ‘aims higher’ for pupils to leave as independent learners prepared for ‘service beyond self.’ This focus on both academic rigour and personal development enables pupils to excel. Pupils leave with extremely strong academic outcomes and are well-prepared to contribute positively to society.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Staff have very high expectations for pupils in all aspects of school life. Pupils develop their leadership, interpersonal and organisational skills through the vast array of responsibilities they take on. House and school captains organise a variety of events and plan and deliver assemblies of extremely high quality. Students in the sixth form support new Year 7 pupils and become subject mentors for pupils in key stage 3.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Behaviour in the school is exemplary. Pupils are very polite, kind, and friendly. They take pride in looking after each other. The house system is at the heart of the school. As a result of this, pupils are very well-known to staff. Relationships between staff and pupils are extremely strong. Pupils feel safe, supported, and cared for.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils develop their talents and interests through an extensive range of clubs and house competitions. The school carefully considers individual pupils to ensure opportunities are broad and inclusive.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school has developed a highly ambitious curriculum for pupils. Staff have identified the precise knowledge they want pupils to learn at each stage of the curriculum. It is designed to build pupils’ knowledge over time progressively. The school has embedded subject specific vocabulary through the curriculum. Staff ensure that pupils use this with remarkable confidence. The school identify and meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) highly effectively. Staff have the skills and expertise to make adaptations where required to ensure pupils with SEND can access the curriculum. As a result, pupils with SEND achieve exceptionally well.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Teachers have expert subject knowledge and present information clearly. They check for pupils’ understanding systematically and address misconceptions quickly. Staff ensure pupils have a deep understanding of what they are learning before moving onto new content. This helps pupils to retain knowledge and build on prior learning. Pupils routinely produce work of very high-quality.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Pupils who find reading more challenging are identified when they join the school. Staff recognise pupils’ individual needs and put in place bespoke support quickly. This ensures pupils become fluent and confident readers. The school has put in place several strategies to encourage pupils to read a wide variety of books regularly. This helps to develop pupils’ enjoyment of reading. 11 and 12 March 2025

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The school works with pupils as soon as they join Year 7 to ensure they understand the positive culture of behaviour. Pupils are highly motivated and resilient. They consistently demonstrate excellent attitudes to their learning. Pupils’ attendance, including pupils with SEND, is very high. The school has robust procedures in place and works closely with parents to support pupils to attend school regularly.

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The school’s personal development programme has been carefully designed to ensure that pupils’ knowledge and understanding deepens and builds over time. Pupils develop an extensive understanding of how to keep themselves safe and healthy. They learn about the importance of kindness and looking after others. Pupils exemplify this learning through the wide range of charity and fundraising events that they organise.

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Pupils attend a wide range of trips and welcome external speakers to the school regularly. This supports pupils to develop their cultural and global understanding. Pupils are very well prepared for life in modern Britain.

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The school provides pupils with purposeful careers advice and guidance. Pupils take part in a range of activities including careers fairs, mock interviews, and a variety of work-based opportunities. Students in the sixth form receive extensive support so that they understand their options once they leave the school. They are well-supported with applications to university and apprenticeships.

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The school has developed a very strong professional development programme for staff. This leads to sustained and continuous improvement in the quality of education.

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Governors understand the strengths and priorities of the school and carry out their role effectively. It has a clear strategic vision and provides appropriate challenge and support to leaders at all levels.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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How can I feed back my views?

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.

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How can I feed back my views?

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. 11 and 12 March 2025

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In the report, 'disadvantaged pupils' is used to mean pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND); pupils who meet the definition of children in need of help and protection ; pupils receiving statutory local authority support from a social worker; and pupils who otherwise meet the criteria used for deciding the school's pupil premium funding (this includes pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years, looked after children (children in local authority care) and/or children who left care through adoption or another formal route). 11 and 12 March 2025

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provision

Number of pupils on the school roll 1361

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form

Appropriate authority The governing body

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form

Date of previous inspection 10 September 2014, under section 5 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The school is a stand-alone academy in the St George’s, Harpenden Academy Trust.  St George’s is a non-denominational Christian school. It does not receive section 48 inspections.  The school uses one registered alternative provision.  The school offers a boarding provision for some pupils in Years 7 to 13.  The school meets the requirements of the provider access legislation, which requires schools to provide pupils in Years 8 to 13 with information and engagement about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships. 11 and 12 March 2025

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Information about this inspection

The inspectors carried out this graded inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. During a graded inspection, we grade the school for each of our key judgements (quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development; and leadership and management) and for any relevant provision judgement (early years and/or sixth form provision). Schools receiving a graded inspection from September 2024, will not be given an overall effectiveness grade.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time evaluation about the quality of a school’s education provision.  This was the first routine inspection the school has received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors met with the headteacher, members of the senior leadership team and a range of staff. They also met with members of the governing body and a representative from the local authority.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in the following subjects: art, design and technology, history, mathematics, and science. For each deep dive, inspectors spoke to subject leaders, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, discussed with pupils, and looked at samples of pupils’ work. The curriculum in other subjects was also considered.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, inspectors: reviewed the single central

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Information about this inspection

record; took account of the views of leaders, staff, and pupils; and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.  The inspectors considered the views of parents, pupils, and staff, including through responses to Ofsted’s online surveys.

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Inspection team

Simon Conway, lead inspector His Majesty's Inspector

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Inspection team

Gareth Cross Ofsted Inspector 11 and 12 March 2025

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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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