Ofsted Report

Dear Parents/ Carers,

The Ofsted report for Duchy of Lancaster is now live on the Ofsted website.

The main headline on the report is that we have been judged as requires improvement. We received judgements of good for behaviour and attitudes. This reflects how amazing the children are at the school at looking after each other and the hard work of all teachers (every adult in the school) this term in establishing effective routines for learning. Personal development was also judged as good. This reflects our aim of making sure children are ready for the next stage of their education and life. This includes our work on helping children to flourish spiritually. The excellent start children have at Duchy of Lancaster was also recognised with the grading of good for early years provision. This is very well deserved, and it was great to see all the effort that has gone into outdoors provision recognised.

The quality or education and leadership and management were both graded as requires improvement. This was a disappointing but fair judgement. These judgements are strongly linked to each other. Leadership and management looks at a range of leaders from the school council to CEO and quality of education focuses on what happens in the classroom. Unfortunately, in too many classrooms, it was judged that children were not taught effectively enough.

Safeguarding was judged as effective. This is recognition of all the work staff have put into making sure our systems are robust and effective. It also makes specific mention of the speed in which members of staff act when concerns are raised. This is developing into a real strength of the school. External visitors regularly comment on the effectiveness of our safeguarding provision.

Ofsted carried out a thorough and fair inspection. We have clear areas to develop and in the coming term. You will see the whole school working hard making sure children at Duchy have an education that is based on the highest of expectations and making sure all achieve highly.

I hope that I count on your continued support with this.



Kind regards,

Mr Damon Finney