Ofsted

The Matthew Arnold School is judged to be good in all areas. The most recent report (June 2018) noted the following strengths of the school:

• Leaders are committed to ensuring that all pupils make good progress. They know what is working well and what needs to improve further.
• The head of school has worked closely with the executive headteacher to galvanise a cohesive leadership team whose members get things done.
• Leaders consistently hold staff to account for outcomes. This has ensured that outcomes are now good and subjects that have been weaker in the past are improving rapidly.
• The curriculum offers a good variety of subjects which enables pupils to pursue their interests. The on-site leisure centre provides many opportunities for pupils to engage in sport, including as extra-curricular activities after school.
• Teachers have enthusiastically taken up the school mantra of ‘Every day students achieve’. They are focused on improving outcomes for all pupils and especially for disadvantaged pupils.
• The Trust provides a strong network of experienced school leaders, which adds to the school’s capacity to strive for excellence.
• The school makes a strong contribution to the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils. Pupils feel very involved with the development of the school and that leaders respond to suggestions for improvements.
• Pupils’ behaviour is good. They are polite, friendly and proud of their school. Pupils are welcoming to visitors and engage well with one another and with adults in the school.
• Governors have been proactive in ensuring that they have a strong skill-set and hold leaders robustly to account. They regularly find opportunities to visit the school and test out the variety of information provided by school leaders on all aspects of the school’s work.

Please follow this link to see the full report.