Central Foundation Boys’ School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The school nurtures and cares for pupils, who are taught successfully to become mature young adults.

Pupils are happy, free to express themselves and guided to explore their education passions. They are respectful of others, sensible and hard-working. Girls who join the school in the sixth form also feel at ease, cared for and safe here.

There is a culture of very high expectations across all aspects of the school. Pupils achieve highly in their GCSE and sixth-form examinations.

Pupils' personal and social development is exceptionally well supported in breadth and quality.

Pupils are encouraged strongly to pursue their talent or academic interest wit...hin and beyond the curriculum. Popular clubs include cooking, fencing, boxing and advanced coding. Many pupils participate in sports and compete locally and nationally.

Pupils also take part in swimming galas, and football and cricket matches. All pupils play music to a high standard, and many join the school's orchestra.

Students in the sixth form contribute significantly to the life of the school.

They act as role models for others. They run house competitions and activities such as culture week for young pupils. Students in the sixth form mentor and read with younger boys and volunteer at the local eye hospital.

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

Teachers are subject experts who consistently break down and explain subject matter so that pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), fully understand what is taught. The curriculum purposely revisits key knowledge regularly so that pupils master important skills that they need for later learning. Teachers check that pupils understand and remember what has been taught so that pupils build their curriculum knowledge steadily over time.

In the sixth form, teachers use their deep subject knowledge to explain complex concepts clearly to students. The school systematically develops students' independent study skills to prepare them for further education.

The school has designed a highly ambitious curriculum tailored to pupils' needs.

Pupils build a secure understanding of important knowledge across subjects. For example, in geography pupils learn about rivers and glaciation in Year 7, plate tectonics in Year 8 and geology in Year 9. This prepares them very well to understand geomorphological processes at GCSE.

All pupils are taught to play a musical instrument competently and regularly cook fresh food dishes.

During Years 10 and 11, pupils deepen their subject knowledge securely. Pupils often learn knowledge and skills beyond what is examined at the end of Year 11.

As a result, pupils are well prepared to achieve highly during Years 12 and 13. A high proportion of students successfully study at prestigious universities and pursue degree apprenticeships.

The school teaches pupils how to behave responsibly from the moment that they join the school.

Pupils behave very sensibly during lessons and at breaktimes. They support each other to attempt challenging work in class without fear of failure. Any pupils who struggle to meet the school's high expectations receive rapid and effective support.

The school meets the needs of pupils with SEND very effectively. These pupils learn the same ambitious curriculum as their peers. Pupils with SEND also take a full part in the life of the school, regularly participating in clubs and activities.

The school regularly checks that pupils can read at an age-appropriate level. Any pupils who require support to read fluently are quickly identified. They are given intensive support to catch up with their peers.

They do so rapidly, access the curriculum fully and succeed in examinations.

Through the school's personal, social and health education curriculum pupils have a strong knowledge of topics, including democracy and personal finances. From Year 7 onwards, pupils receive clear careers information and advice that helps to guide their choices and encourage their aspirations.

Pupils regularly attend educational outings that bring the school's curriculum to life. For example, pupils in Year 8 visited Tate Modern to deepen their knowledge of art, and Year 13 physics students visited CERN in Switzerland to understand how the universe works. The school develops pupils' communication and public-speaking skills and provides regular debating opportunities.

Those responsible for governance work closely with leaders to ensure that pupils continue to achieve highly. They challenge the school appropriately when needed. They regularly gather the views of staff, parents and pupils.

Staff are proud to work at the school and feel that their workload and well-being are taken into account. Teachers receive regular, quality feedback about their teaching from each other, as part of the school's extensive professional development offer.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.