Eastbourne school keeps 'good' Ofsted rating following inspection

Cavendish School in Eldon Road was inspected in September with the report being published on Tuesday, October 24.

The report states that there has been no change to the academy’s overall judgement of ‘good’ as a result of this ungraded inspection, but the evidence gathered suggests that the inspection grade might be ‘outstanding’ if a graded inspection was carried out now.

When a school is judged to be ‘good’ Ofsted will normally revisit the site around every four years to confirm it is still operating at that level, this is called an ungraded inspection. If inspectors find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection.

The inspector said Cavendish School, which has students aged between two-16 years old, has very high expectations of its pupils and they achieve very highly in both the primary and secondary phase in a wide range of subjects.

The report states: "The school has created a curriculum that runs seamlessly from children in pre-school to pupils in Year 11. Working across the two phases of the school, staff have drawn thoughtfully on the expertise of primary and secondary colleagues to design this curriculum.”

Pupils are also happy at school and there is an excellent programme of enrichment opportunities termed ‘The Cavendish Offer’, according to the report.

The inspector said there is a very strong culture of reading throughout the school.

They added: "Learning is very rarely disrupted. Almost all pupils behave well almost all of the time, both in and out of the classroom. When they do not, the school uses extensive and effective pastoral support to help those pupils improve their behaviour."

The school teaches pupils from the youngest years to be tolerant of and celebrate difference and there is a very well-established programme of careers education which begins in the primary phase, according to the report.

The inspector added that the staff feel very well supported by leaders and the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Executive headteacher Peter Marchant said: “Whilst we already knew that our school had many strengths, it is wonderful to have it confirmed by Ofsted and we can all be rightly proud to have gained such recognition. The inspectors were incredibly impressed and noted ‘pupils behave very well in the classroom and around the school. This creates a calm and welcoming atmosphere in which pupils thrive’.

“I know that pupils and parents appreciate just how hard the staff work to provide not only superb teaching, but also the wonderful opportunities for all pupils to develop at Cavendish.”