Landau Forte College

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils thrive at this school.

Not only do they get an exceptional high quality academic education, but they build strength of character that will help them overcome challenges they might face in later life.

Pupils become braver here. Their social confidence develops.

They show tenacity, modesty, empathy and manners. Pupils enjoy their time at this school and show highly positive attitudes to learning. This is not by luck.

It is accomplished through a carefully designed and deliberate strategy better known as 'Best me'.

The school is highly ambitious for every pupil. Staff hold pupils to account and have the highest expectations of each pupil....

This ensures that pupils achieve incredibly well. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and disadvantaged pupils receive everything they need to be successful here.

The school is inclusive.

Pupils from different backgrounds learn about each other. They identify commonalities and celebrate differences. Pupils make a tangible difference by confidently sharing their lived experience with others.

This benefits the whole school community.

Pupils value the strong relationships they have with all staff. The high expectations and academic rigour do not compromise the warmth and care that pupils feel.

Pupils feel safe and happy at Landau.

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

The school makes deliberate curriculum decisions so that there are no limits or boundaries to what a pupil can achieve at this school. The curriculum is broad.

Pupils in key stage 4 study four options. Many of them also continue to study a language. Although pupils start to study their option subjects in Year 9, this does not limit the number of subjects they study.

Pupils continue to study the breadth of the national curriculum in Year 9 through the creative curriculum and world studies. These decisions are taken in the best interests of pupils.

All staff are absolutely clear about what pupils should know, remember and be able to do in each subject and in each year group.

This is precisely defined in the school's 'curriculum compendium'. The curriculum has been carefully designed so that pupils acquire new knowledge and can integrate this into larger ideas. There is a strong consideration for cross-curricular links so pupils can use knowledge from one subject and apply it in another.

For example, in physical education (PE), teachers help pupils to draw on their learning about the skeletal structure in science, and apply it more precisely when they learn about why bone density is important for gymnasts.

Teachers receive high-quality bespoke weekly professional development. They use this to strengthen their own subject knowledge.

Teachers have become highly effective at presenting information to pupils. They consistently use effective methods to teach and assess. This helps pupils to learn the curriculum and achieve in all subjects.

The school has a highly effective strategy to ensure that all pupils become better readers. Those at the earliest stages of reading access an age-appropriate phonics curriculum. This helps pupils access the full curriculum at a later stage.

Individual learning plans are consistently used well by teachers and additional adults so that pupils with SEND achieve as well as other pupils.

Students in the sixth form benefit from the highly skilled teaching. The academic and personal support they receive is exceptional.

All students play a visible role in acting as role models to younger pupils. Many use their personal time and subject expertise to help younger pupils who are struggling. Students' attainment is consistently above published national averages.

There are a rich set of extra-curricular activities. There are high levels of uptake from pupils from all year groups. Pupils told inspectors there is something for everyone to develop a new talent and interest.

A group of pupils have just returned from Iowa after competing in an international robotics competition. Another pupil spoke about how she has developed her love for poetry and now has published books. Pupils acknowledge the school goes beyond what is expected.

One pupil summed up the views of many when she said, 'This is all because of Landau.'

Behaviour at the school is exemplary. Pupils' behaviour gets better and better as they spend more time at the school.

When pupils struggle to meet the school's high expectations, high levels of support, intervention and education are put in place. The school takes intelligent and precise actions so that all pupils learn how to self-regulate and manage their emotions.

Leaders always seek the views of stakeholders.

This engagement is meaningful and regular. Leaders are insistent on making continuous improvement even when they know the school performs exceptionally well. This is rooted in the school's ethos and moral purpose of providing the best for the children of Derby.

This determination and drive does not undermine the workload and well-being of staff. As a result, staff are passionate about working here.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.