Elmhurst School celebrates “significant progress” following positive Ofsted inspection

“Pupils love being part of this school’s very caring community. They feel that they belong and are safe. From the early years, children are known well as individuals. Any barriers to learning they may have are quickly identified. This includes pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) or are disadvantaged.”

This is one of the key findings in a newly-published Ofsted report for Elmhurst School, part of Great Learners Trust, following a visit from His Majesty’s Inspectors earlier this month. The school was assessed against Ofsted’s new inspection framework and achieved the ‘Expected standard’ in six evaluated areas: Attendance and Behaviour, Curriculum and Teaching, Early Years, Inclusion, Leadership and Governance, and Personal Development and Wellbeing.

The ‘Expected standard’ judgement means the Aylesbury school is “following the standard set out in statutory and non-statutory legislation and the professional standards expected of them”. Inspectors also confirmed that all legal safeguarding standards are met and that “the school has an open and positive culture of safeguarding.”

The outcome represents significant progress for Elmhurst School. Under the previous inspection framework, the school was judged as ‘Requires improvement’ for overall effectiveness in November 2023. This latest report, however, highlights the impact of leaders at both school and trust level, praising their work to:

• “Have high expectations of parents to ensure their children attend school regularly and on time.”
• “Promote positive and respectful behaviour and have embedded secure routines. This means pupils feel safe.”
• “Have an accurate understanding of the quality of the curriculum and teaching. The curriculum is ambitious and well designed, so that pupils build up their knowledge and skills over time.”
• “Ensure that inclusion sits at the heart of all decision-making. They identify accurately the specific needs of pupils with SEND. This begins when children start in the early years.”
• “Have a secure understanding of what children need to learn to be ready for the next stage of their education.”
• “Know the school and its community very well. They understand what the school’s strengths are and where it needs to improve. Leaders use this knowledge to set clear priorities and take direct, prompt action. They are highly focused on improving the outcomes for pupils, especially those who face barriers to their learning or wellbeing.”
• “Take their wellbeing and the management of their workload very seriously and feel very well supported.”
• “Have designed a personal development offer and a programme of wider opportunities that prepare pupils well for life beyond school. This includes a comprehensive personal, social, emotional and health education curriculum.”

The inspectors add: “Trustees and governors carry out their role effectively. They want all pupils to achieve as well as they can and acknowledge that inconsistencies in pupils’ outcomes need to be addressed in order to realise the school’s high aspirations. With the trust’s support, leaders have put in place clear systems and processes to check that the quality of educational provision is as high as possible. The trust provide both support and challenge to ensure that the school continues to improve at a swift pace.”

The report also found that parents and carers are “very positive about the school and the support and care their children receive”.

Inspectors noted that pupils “enjoy attending school and feel a real sense of belonging”, while pupils “work hard and want to achieve well”. Social times are described as “highly enjoyable” because pupils “genuinely care for and look after each other”. Relationships between staff and pupils are “very positive”, “warm and respectful”.

Overall, inspectors highlighted the school and trust’s “overall aim to have high expectations of all pupils and to meet pupils’ individual needs. Inclusion is promoted consistently across the school”.

The report identified one area that ‘Needs attention’, specifically relating to further improving pupils’ achievement, which indicates that “expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements”. A further recommendation for the school to continue to build on its “consistent implementation of the ambitious curriculum” is designed to to help move the school up to ‘Strong standard”.

Sarah Baber, CEO of Great Learners Trust, said: “We are incredibly proud of the leaders, staff, pupils, and families at Elmhurst School following this Ofsted inspection. The report recognises the school’s caring and inclusive culture, where pupils feel safe, valued and genuinely belong, and where high expectations are matched by strong support for every child.

“Particularly pleasing is the acknowledgement of the school’s commitment to inclusion, the positive relationships between staff and pupils, the improvements in attendance, and the extensive work undertaken to remove barriers to learning. Inspectors also highlighted the dedication of leaders and staff in maintaining a clear focus on continuous improvement, despite significant challenges in recent years.

“At Great Learners Trust, we are proud to support Elmhurst's journey. This report reflects the hard work and commitment of the entire school community and demonstrates the impact of strong leadership, collaboration and a relentless focus on doing what is best for children. While we recognise there is more work to do to secure sustained improvements in achievement, we are confident that the foundations are firmly in place and that Elmhurst will continue to go from strength to strength.”

Rachel Lee, Executive Headteacher of Elmhurst School, commented: “We are pleased that this Ofsted inspection outlines the significant progress Elmhurst School has made over recent years, which matches our own self-assessment. The report reflects the dedication of our staff, the support of our families and governors, and the commitment of our pupils to making Elmhurst a welcoming and ambitious place to learn.

“The recognition of the successful implementation of a curriculum that is now firmly embedded across the school and our inclusive culture is particularly welcome. Inspectors saw first-hand the positive environment we have created and the strong foundations that are helping pupils to achieve and thrive, and by the end of it felt like they had fallen in love with our school.

“While we remain focused on further improving outcomes, we are definitely on the right path as evidenced by our progress measures. This report provides clear validation that the school is moving in the right direction and that the work undertaken since the previous inspection is making a real difference for our children and community.”

Headteacher Kirsty Needham shared: “I am immensely proud of what the Elmhurst team has achieved and of the positive experience our pupils enjoy every day.

“This Ofsted report reflects the hard work, care and determination shown by staff across the school, who consistently go above and beyond to support every child. It is especially rewarding to see the school’s inclusive ethos recognised so strongly. We believe every child deserves to feel valued, supported and challenged to succeed, and the report highlights the warm relationships, sense of belonging and high expectations that underpin life at Elmhurst.

“We will continue building on this momentum, working closely with pupils, families and colleagues to ensure every child receives the very best education and opportunities to flourish.”