Cambourne Village College

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Cambourne Village College has created a culture where difference is not just valued but celebrated. Pupils are highly supportive of their peers and are excellent ambassadors, keen to contribute to the wider life of the school. Pupils, leaders and teachers work together to create a feeling of community, where pupils are confident to 'be who they want to be'.

The school equips pupils with the ambition and skills to 'pursue their dreams'. This culture of aspiration enables pupils not only to achieve strong academic outcomes, but also helps them to build independence, character and confidence superbly. The school considers and meets the needs of the pupils.

They thrive as... a result.

Staff know their pupils incredibly well. They are meticulous in providing precise support so that pupils achieve highly.

Teachers' passion for, and knowledge of, their subjects is clear to see. As a result, pupils are immersed in an environment which cultivates their interest and curiosity. This gives pupils the best chances of achieving excellent academic success.

Pupils demonstrate excellent behaviour throughout the school. Their conduct reflects the school's ethos of respect. The school places a strong emphasis on pupils' well-being and safety.

Pupils benefit from this highly nurturing environment where they can flourish.

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

The school offers a rich and broad curriculum that inspires pupils at every stage of their education. Staff expertly navigate pupils through these stages, guiding them through a diverse range of subjects, opportunities and experiences.

The introduction of the school's sixth form enables this journey to continue into key stage 5, where an impressive selection of subjects is available.

Staff are astute at identifying and meeting pupils' needs. They apply effective strategies to support them and adapt tasks skilfully, so all pupils produce high-quality work.

This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Teachers demonstrate a deep passion and knowledge for what they teach. Staff possess a wide range of skills and expertise and collaborate often, helping the team to be greater than the sum of its parts.

This creates cohesion and consistency across different subject departments, ensuring all pupils experience a top-notch education. Staff benefit from high-quality professional development to further develop their teaching.

Enrichment activities are thoughtfully designed to complement the curriculum, inspiring and engaging pupils.

Subject departments offer activities, trips and events that enhance their experience in the classroom to help consolidate learning. The school goes to great lengths to ensure all pupils can have access to these opportunities.

Teachers ensure that pupils secure strong foundations in their subjects.

This allows pupils to build on their knowledge and achieve high levels of expertise. Staff know that reading is vital to pupils' future success. The school quickly identifies any pupil who is not a fluent reader and gives them high-quality support, helping them to read well.

Pupils' confident and competent reading allows them to access the curriculum easily via texts and online resources.

Pupils' behaviour is excellent. Staff have fair and consistently high expectations.

Pupils demonstrate responsibility for their own actions and have helped to shape behaviour systems, wanting to play their part. They attend lessons on time, ready to learn and motivated to succeed. Pupils' appreciation of one another is clear.

They are polite, respectful and value the different opinions, beliefs and cultures of their peers. Older pupils work to support younger pupils by modelling positive behaviours and attitudes.

This mutual respect and collaboration continues into the new sixth form, where students are working hard to establish a sense of community in this new provision.

They have collaborated with leaders to ensure that their new 'home' feels part of the main school, while also allowing them to study in a more flexible and informal environment. Leaders have planned every part of the sixth-form experience carefully, crafting an offer that is ambitious and suited to the needs of students. The new key stage 5 curriculum has been connected expertly to the stage before.

Students' personal development is considered carefully, for example by providing useful careers guidance and support for university applications.

The programme for pupils' wider personal development is exceptional. The school produces a curriculum that reflects the changing demographic of the local area.

Pupils are at the centre this offer. They feel their voice is valued and that they are making a difference. The 'not just black or white' committee is a shining example of this, championing diversity in the school.

Committees, ambassadors and leadership groups studiously work to educate and help their peers, and know they are making a difference. Pupils learn things that are important to them like personal safety, respect and diversity.

The trust, governing body and school leaders are unified in their ambition for this school.

Collectively, they are experienced and extremely knowledgeable. They work with diligence and precision to ensure that the school is operating at its best. Staff feel very well supported by the development opportunities they receive.

Their workload and well-being are considered well. Staff, therefore, can focus on providing high-quality education, support and experiences every day at Cambourne Village College.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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