Queens Park Community School, in Aylestone Avenue, was visited by inspectors from the education watchdog on January 28 and 29.
The school, part of Queens Park Community School Academy Trust, received the second highest ‘good’ rating after its last inspection in 2019.
Although Ofsted no longer issues single-word ratings, inspectors gave it ‘good’ ratings across all categories – quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development; leadership and management and sixth-form provision – in their latest visit.
In their report, published on March 26, inspectors noted that the school had a “warm and supportive” environment and pupils’ voices were at the heart of decision-making.
They praised a broad and well organised curriculum, which covers subjects such as criminology, photography and music technology as well as an extensive extra-curricular activities such as sports clubs, dissecting, art and debating.
Inspectors noted that some pupils study two languages and achieve “exceptionally well”, singling out examples of how verbs and vocabulary are taught.
The report said leaders have high expectations of pupils and support children with special educational needs so they achieve highly alongside their peers.
Teachers have “strong” subject knowledge, which helps pupils develop a depth of knowledge and explore complex questions, it added.
An increased focus on literacy, was praised, with ‘word of the week’ and ‘read and rise’ sessions to help pupils build their vocabulary as well as pairing sixth formers with pupils who speak English as an additional language to help them settle in.
But while the school’s work to improve assessment has been broadly successful, the report said teachers’ checks on pupils’ work are sometimes inconsistent and some pupils are not making the progress they should.
And inspectors recommended more consistent punishments, reporting that a new approach to managing behaviour was not fully embedded, meaning a small number of pupils do not fully focus.
Headteacher Jude Enright said: “Our QPCS vision is to be, ‘a centre of academic excellence at the heart of our community, with the highest expectations for all our learners’, so it was lovely to read in the report that, ‘The school has high expectations for all’.”
She added: “There is always more to improve, and it was a strong endorsement of QPCS leaders and trustees that the two areas identified for development are our two main school improvement priorities for 2024 – 25. “Our Ofsted report gives us the green light to continue this work.”
