'Strong' Ofsted report for Newfield Secondary School described as “warm, caring, calm, orderly and respectful”
“This report recognises the tremendous journey Newfield has been on”
A Sheffield secondary school has come up gleaming in its latest Ofsted inspection.
Tensions with parents were high in 2025 after the trust which runs Newfield Secondary School - Mercia Learning Trust - suggested curriculum changes.
It included a walk out by seven students and a protest outside the gates over proposed cuts to the number of hours allocated for drama, music and art classes for Y7-9 pupils.
But the latest Osted for the school has shown what progress has been made, with inspectors calling the school “warm, caring, calm, orderly and respectful”.
Newfield was rated at a ‘strong standard’ in two areas: attendance and behaviour, and inclusion.
Newfield’s report published on September 15 reads: “[The school’s routines] create a safe and purposeful atmosphere where lessons are free from disruption and pupils engage positively with learning.
“Relationships between staff and pupils are warm and caring. Leaders’ high expectations are applied consistently, creating a culture where pupils feel known, supported and able to thrive.
“The school has established a highly inclusive culture where pupils feel known, supported and valued.
“Teachers make thoughtful adjustments in lessons so that pupils with SEND can learn alongside their peers.”
Mercia Learning Trust said Newfield is celebrating “a landmark year” with “its strongest GCSE outcomes” since before the pandemic.
Headteacher Ruth Hollingsworth said: “This report recognises the tremendous journey Newfield has been on and reflects what our pupils, staff and families experience every day. We have worked hard to create a school where every pupil feels known, valued and supported to succeed.”
Newfield was rated ‘good’ at its last inspection in 2022.
The latest report notes some tensions with parents since changes were introduced at the school last year.
“Not all parents feel positive about some of the changes at the school,” it reads. “[Leaders] are committed to addressing this,” the report says.
“Suspensions have reduced significantly and are used proportionately.
“The school has been through a period of rapid change... [Governors] understand why change was needed and check that leaders’ actions are helping pupils.
“Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are fully supported with any behavioural needs.
“Pupils’ overall achievement is improving and now sits close to national averages.
“However, achievement is not yet consistent for all groups. Disadvantaged pupils attain below their peers, especially in English and mathematics, and this gap has widened over recent years. Leaders have made suitable changes to the curriculum to address this. Current pupils are now making more secure progress.”
Mercia Learning Trust CEO Neil Miley said: “Newfield School's transformation has been built on high expectations, strong relationships and an unwavering commitment to excellence. The exceptional improvement seen in outcomes for disadvantaged pupils is particularly encouraging and demonstrates the impact of the work taking place across the school.”
Mercia School on Carterknowle Road, which is also run by the same trust, is rated one of the best in the country.
The trust has also recently taken over Chaucer School, which is now known as Mercia Northridge.