The recent Ofsted inspection report has now been released for publication.

 

It has recorded the judgement on the school as ‘Requires Improvement’ because of historical examination results. However, it also noted that robust systems and rigorous quality assurance measures are making a difference. Inspectors acknowledged that ‘There are good systems and processes in place to check on the quality of the school’s work over time’.

 

Clearly there is still work to do to bring the School to ‘good’ and then to ‘outstanding’ which is our ambition. We do know what to do. 'Leadership and management are good. The Headteacher has a clear and accurate view of the strengths and weaknesses of the school. He is supported effectively by governors and is resolute about bringing about improvements, particularly in the quality of teaching.'

 

Our achievement needs to be better. 'Students enter the school with broadly average attainment and standards by the end of Year 11 are in line with national averages. The proportion of students gaining five or more GCSE passes at grades A*-C, including English and Mathematics, was also in line with the national average in 2012.' Our use of data improved significantly over the past 18 months and has resulted in a rise in achievement.

 

'The quality of teaching is improving. It still requires improvement because a small amount of inadequate teaching remains and not enough lessons are good or better.' This is our key focus for the next 12 months as it is the most important factor in school improvement. 'Teaching is carefully monitored. The performance of staff is well managed and linked to salary progression. Staff are given good quality training to improve their teaching where it is needed, including carefully targeted support and challenge. Consequently, the overall quality of teaching is improving quickly.'

 

Student behaviour was judged as ‘good’. 'Students typically behave well and students, staff and parents and carers say that behaviour is well managed. Staff are quick to reward good behaviour and make use of praise to ensure that positives are reinforced. This, coupled with effective support for those students that need help with behaviour, has led to a strongly improving picture.'

 

We are pleased that the inspectors recognised that we know the school; we know what to do to improve. 'The Headteacher has worked successfully in his drive to bring about improvement. The weakest teaching has been eliminated and there are strong signs of improvement in other aspects of the school’s work. There has been considerable staff change since the last inspection and newly appointed leaders and managers at all levels have brought talent and expertise to the school.' Governors are knowledgeable about the school’s strengths and weaknesses. Governance is stronger now than at the previous inspection. Since the introduction of more rigorous self-evaluation and quality assurance processes, supported by accurate data, governors have been able to hold leaders to account effectively. Governors bring a good range of expertise to the school and have been very effective in providing challenge. Leadership and management was graded as ‘good’ by inspectors.

 

The overall judgement was ‘Requires Improvement’ but the ‘good’ judgements of Behaviour and Leadership and Management, demonstrate our capacity to improve. Rest assured that we will continue to drive the school forward in order to become an ‘outstanding’ school