Saffron Walden County High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils thrive at this school. Whether they join in the main school or the sixth form, pupils quickly settle in and make friends.

There is a strong sense of community. Pupils are extremely proud of their achievements, including beyond the academic. They have the chance to develop their musical interests and skills to a very high level.

They love performing in Saffron Hall. The wealth of clubs that pupils attend contributes to their sense of belonging. These include, but are not limited to, the Duke of Edinburgh Award and sports and language clubs.

This ensures that there are opportunities for everyone.

Pupils benefit from the high expectations that st...aff have for their academic achievement. They are incredibly positive about their lessons.

Pupils, including in the sixth form, love learning. They display high levels of perseverance when work is challenging. Pupils know they can do well with the high-quality support that they receive from adults.

The school has established a culture where all pupils have a shared understanding of excellent behaviour. Adults are consistent in their expectations for how pupils should behave. Pupils are incredibly courteous and considerate to each other, staff and visitors.

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

The school ensures that pupils achieve academic success and develop a wealth of cultural knowledge and understanding. All pupils benefit from an ambitious and challenging curriculum. Many pupils arrive having exceeded national expectations at primary school.

The school takes account of pupils' different needs. The curriculum builds well on pupils' previous learning, so pupils achieve highly.

Teachers have an excellent subject knowledge.

They receive regular high-quality training. This ensures that they are skilled in using the most effective strategies to teach the curriculum well. Teachers know what pupils struggle with.

They are clear and precise when explaining new information. They plan appropriate activities for pupils to practise their new knowledge. If pupils struggle, teachers are quick to intervene.

The support they provide is highly effective in ensuring that pupils can quickly move on with their learning.

Pupils are extremely positive about their lessons. They know they are well supported, and they love the broad range of subjects that they study.

As a result, pupils achieve exceptionally well.

The school has prioritised developing pupils' love of reading. Teachers are skilled at teaching pupils subject specific vocabulary, so it is well understood.

The school library is welcoming and comfortable. It is well attended while remaining an oasis of calm. Support for weaker readers is highly effective in helping them gain the skills they need to read fluently.

The school welcomes a large, and increasing, number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and education, health and care (EHC) plans. Pupils' individual needs are identified quickly. The school provides bespoke and targeted help, both academically and emotionally.

All staff are highly skilled in supporting pupils with SEND, so they access the curriculum and successfully thrive alongside their peers.

Students in the sixth form are supported exceptionally well. Teachers have a clear understanding of what each individual student needs to do well, including those with SEND.

They plan challenging activities to expertly build and develop students' knowledge and understanding. Students flourish under their teachers' expert care. They highly value their 'Life Lessons', which prepare them well for the future.

The school ensures that students take on responsibilities and set up their own clubs, such as debating. Students achieve very highly.

Pupils display exceptional standards of behaviour.

They are respectful and have excellent manners. Relationships between staff and pupils are superb. If pupils need extra support, excellent pastoral care is given in designated areas known as 'B-16' and 'the shed'.

Incidents of poor behaviour are rare. If they do occur, the school swiftly intervenes and puts in highly effective additional help.

The provision for pupils' personal development is exemplary.

Speakers and external visits are deliberately interwoven into the curriculum to enhance pupils' experiences. Theatre and music trips, opportunities to travel abroad and sports, such as netball, football and rugby, are all extremely popular. Many pupils develop their leadership skills and take up opportunities to become school councillors or reading mentors.

The careers programme is extensive and extremely well designed to meet pupils' needs. Pupils leave school with a secure knowledge of the different opportunities available to them.

Trustees and governors are highly effective in helping to secure excellent provision for all pupils.

Leaders ensure that staff are very well supported. The overwhelming majority of parents would recommend the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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