Setting

Aviation House 125 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 0300 123 1231 F 020 7421 6855 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Mr J Haseldine Headteacher Stretford High School Great Stone Road Manchester M32 0XA

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Ofsted 2010 11 best practice study: English

Thank you for your hospitality and cooperation, and that of your staff, during my visit on 22 September 2010 to look at work in English.

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Ofsted 2010 11 best practice study: English

The visit provided valuable information which will contribute to our publication about best practice in English. The publication will include case studies about individual providers. If your school is included as a case study, you will have an opportunity to comment prior to publication. Individual institutions will not be identified in the main text without their consent.

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Ofsted 2010 11 best practice study: English

The evidence used to inform the judgements included: two visits, during which four lessons led by different teachers were observed; meetings with teachers and students, and scrutiny of documentation and students’ work.

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Features of good practice:

 Continuous and imaginative refreshment of schemes of work to engage and challenge all students.  Sharing interesting literature with students and linking their reading to exciting cross-curricular learning and practical projects in the community.  High expectations of speaking and listening and very good opportunities to learn how to work in groups, in ways which foster independence.  Making students feel valued by listening to them and responding to their writing.  Thoroughly monitoring all different students’ learning and progress in each aspect of English, to evaluate strategies.  The passionate and infectious enthusiasm of the teaching team for their subject, their students and for developing their skills as English teachers, which is supported well by leaders and managers.

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Areas for development

 Developing the confidence of a minority of students, currently some lower attaining boys, to express their ideas independently in writing.

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Areas for development

I hope that these observations are useful as you continue to develop English in the school.

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Areas for development

As I explained previously, a copy of this letter will be published on the Ofsted website. It may be used to inform decisions about any future inspection. Except in the case of academies, a copy of this letter is also being sent to your local authority.

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