OFSTED has given Queen Elizabeth’s School in Crediton a broadly positive report card – but said its post-16 provision “needs attention”.

The education watchdog said the secondary academy meets the “expected standard” across the areas of achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, leadership and governance and personal development and wellbeing.

But it described students' outcomes in A-levels “as below what is typical nationally over time”.

Ofsted visited the 1,138-pupil school on May 12.

It found that “most pupils achieve well across the curriculum”, but in some subjects “pupils and some sixth-form students are not supported sufficiently well to extend their learning and write with clarity to demonstrate their understanding”.

The education watchdog praised QE’s support of disadvantaged students, who “typically” achieve well.

And ongoing staff training strengthens teachers' ability to reduce the barriers to learning for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), Ofsted said.

It described the atmosphere at QE as being “calm and harmonious” and found that bullying and discrimination were rare, according to pupils.

The curriculum is “coherently sequenced across all subjects”, Ofsted continued, and teachers “demonstrate secure subject knowledge, supported by trust-wide subject networks which enhance their expertise”.

However, it said “teachers do not consistently draw on what they know about pupils' understanding when adapting lessons”, meaning that, “at times, pupils, including students in the sixth form, are not routinely challenged to deepen their learning or extend the quality of their written responses”.

Staff are “very positive” about the support leaders provide for their wellbeing and workload, are “proud” to work at the school and “share leaders' vision for pupils' success”.

Parents and carers are “generally positive” about the school, the education watchdog said, and “value the care that their children receive and appreciate the high expectations and aspirations” that staff have for them.

Ofsted also praised QE’s PSHE curriculum, wide range of extra-curricular activities (especially its drama productions), and school trips.

The education watchdog was more critical about the sixth form but still praised much of the school’s post-16 provision.

“Students' outcomes in A-levels have been below what is typical nationally over time,” it said.

“Staff do not consistently identify students' starting points with sufficient accuracy.

“On these occasions, teaching does not build on what students already know. As a result, students do not achieve as well as they should.

“Leaders understand the factors that have contributed to under-achievement and have begun to address them, although this work is at an early stage.”

Despite this, many students “progress successfully to higher education or apprenticeships when they leave school”.

And Ofsted said pupils are “very well supported” in thinking about their future careers and benefit from a “wide range” of work experience placements and visits to local universities.

Headteacher Paula Smith said: “We are incredibly proud that inspectors recognised the warm relationships, inclusive culture and strong community spirit that sit at the heart of our school.

"The report reflects the hard work and dedication of our staff, the positive attitudes and kindness of our students, and the support of our families.”