Setting

David Clark Headteacher William Allitt School Sunnyside Newhall Swadlincote DE11 0TL

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Education act 2005 to William Allitt School

Following my visit to your school on 27 November 2012, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to report on the findings of my visit. Thank you for the help you gave me and for the time you made available to discuss the actions you are taking to improve the school since the most recent section 5 inspection.

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Education act 2005 to William Allitt School

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in September 2012. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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Evidence

During the visit, meetings were held with the headteacher, senior leaders, the Chair and members of the governing body and a representative of the local authority. The school’s action plan was evaluated. Teachers’ planning was evaluated, together with the minutes of the governing body’s meetings, the impact of performance management and the school’s monitoring.

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Context

There are no significant changes in context since the last inspection.

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Main findings

The school’s development plan has been rewritten to more effectively cover the issues identified in the previous inspection. There is greater clarity about the Serco Inspections Cedar House 21 William Street Edgbaston Birmingham B15 1LH T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 0121 683 3288 Direct email :beverley.joyner@serco.com intended activities and these are clearly linked to success criteria. The plan does not always identify measurable outcomes.

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Main findings

The school’s student progress information has been improved so that the progress made by all groups of students can be followed and the information shared with teachers. This is improving teachers’ planning. The school is using this information to better hold teachers to account for the progress made by students.

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Main findings

The school has encouraged teachers to work together in groups to develop teaching. Currently, these groups are considering how best to give feedback to students in order to improve the quality of their work. Through these groups, the school is sharing its good practice more effectively and improving teaching and learning.

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Main findings

The governing body has begun to evaluate its work and to compare its performance against the national standards for governance. Governors have undertaken training and have a better understanding of their role. Governors are using this information to draw up an action plan. The minutes of meetings record the ways in which they are holding leaders to account, but do not clearly list actions that follow from meetings.

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Main findings

Senior leaders and governors are taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the recent section 5 inspection. Following the visit to the school, HMI recommend that further action is taken to:

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Main findings

 Make the success criteria in the school action plan more measurable so that the senior leadership team and governors can monitor and evaluate it accurately  ensure that the full governing body reviews its action plan in January 2013 and that a draft is emailed to HMI for comment prior to the full governing body meeting.

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Main findings

Ofsted will continue to monitor the school until its next section 5 inspection.

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External support

The local authority knows the school well and has regular discussions with the school concerning its progress. There is a structure of support available and the local authority and the school are working together to ensure the support is carefully matched to the school’s needs and complements the training which the school can provide for itself.

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External support

I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body and the Director of Children’s Services for Derbyshire. Yours sincerely

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