Somerset Studio School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders and governors share a passionate commitment to the school and to the development of its distinct identity. The curriculum meets the needs of pupils well.

In addition to the specialisms offered in electronic engineering and biosciences, pupils greatly appreciate the opportunities they have to maintain breadth in their curriculum programmes. Leaders ensure that pupils undertake an impressive range of extra-curricular activities. These enable pupils to develop independent research skills in an original and dynamic way.

Students make good progress in the sixth form. Teaching enables them to deepen their knowledge and understanding. St...udents appreciate the support they get from teachers and value their study programmes highly.

Leaders have established clear expectations for pupils to raise aspirations and improve attitudes. As a result of this, personal development and welfare are good. Pupils' behaviour is good.

Pupils behave politely to each other and to staff. Leaders make rigorous efforts to address issues with attendance, particularly persistent absence. As a result, attendance rates for pupils are improving The quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good overall.

As a result, pupils make good progress in mathematics, and their progress in English is improving. Leaders have raised expectations of what pupils are able to achieve and have set more ambitious targets. The majority of teachers are responding to this well.

However, leaders have yet to ensure that this is consistent across all classes and subject areas. Where teaching is weaker, expectations are not high enough and pupils lack self-motivation. In these cases, work is often poorly presented or unfinished and therefore is not a useful resource for pupils to consolidate their learning.

The majority of teachers use assessment information well to provide suitable support for pupils. Where this is not the case, some work lacks challenge or leads to some pupils not being able to complete the work set.

Information about this school

The school opened in 2015.

It is a small school with a specific focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, specialising in electronic engineering and biosciences. The first year of GCSEs and A levels was in 2017. The school is one of three schools that are part of the Dragonfly Educational Trust.

Leadership and staffing are shared with Writhlington School and there is some joint teaching. A small number of pupils use provision at Trowbridge College. The current headteacher joined in April 2016 and the school moved into purpose-built accommodation in February 2017.

The proportion of pupils supported by the additional pupil premium funding is in line with the national average. The proportion pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is below the national average. There is a small percentage of pupils from a minority ethnic group.

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