Setting

CfBT Inspection Services Suite 22 West Lancs Investment Centre Maple View Skelmersdale WN8 9TG T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 618 8524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 01695 566855 Direct F 01695 729320 Direct email: gail.hill@cfbt.com

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Ms Elizabeth Churton Headteacher Hanson School Sutton Avenue Swain House Road Bradford West Yorkshire BD2 1JP

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Education act 2005 to Hanson School, Bradford

Following my visit to your school on 9 May 2013, 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 Hanson School, Bradford

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in. 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 head teacher, other senior leaders, members of the governing body, representatives of the local authority and pupils at the school. The school improvement plan, pupil achievement and progress data, learning support plans and attendance information were evaluated. There was a tour of the school and a meeting with more able pupils.

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Context

The school is in the middle of an extensive staffing restructure in preparation for the next academic year. Currently there is one vacancy in mathematics and one in English, these are covered by supply teachers

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Main findings

The governors, head teacher and the senior leadership team have responded to the findings of the last inspection by refining and focussing improvement plans on the identified priorities. The plans are ambitious and a’ change team’ of governors and school leaders has been put in place to ensure the school meets the milestones it has set itself. The external review of governance has not yet begun and remains a priority for the school. Improvements are being made in the quality of teaching because of the forensic analysis of lesson observation data. This has enabled specific support programmes to be quickly put in place for some teachers. This is supported by coaching and the use of Advanced Skills Teachers. The school now judges 67% of lessons to be good or better, Ofsted judged this to be 62% at the time of the last inspection. The latest school assessment information (March 2013) shows improving pupil achievement,

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Main findings

there is an estimated 7% improvement in predicted mathematics GCSE grades A*-C since the last inspection. There has been extensive support from the Bradford Partnership and a one term secondment to the school has added to its capacity to analyse and act on pupil assessment data. A robust system has been put in place to log instances of positive and negative pupil behaviour. This enables interventions to be quickly put in place for individual pupils and vulnerable cohorts to be monitored in each year group, however poor attendance remains an issue.

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Main findings

Senior leaders and governors have begun to take 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

 Implement the planned restructure of staffing within the timescale set in order to ensure there are clear lines of accountability for all teachers.  Ensure that plans to strengthen governance are given a high priority and are incorporated into the school’s improvement plan with clear timescales and milestones. Regular and consistent processes that hold the head teacher and senior leaders to account should be embedded in the plan. The planned external review of governance will assist this process.  Continue to drive the improvements in pupil achievement and the quality of teaching through the new leadership structures within the school.  Improve attendance overall by taking further action to engage specific pupils who have entrenched poor attendance. Bring forward plans to appoint a home/school liaison worker to ensure this work is given a high priority. Secure the support of the Local Authority in

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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 school has a supportive partnership with Northern Lights Teaching School Alliance, this has enabled Specialist Leaders of Education to add capacity, particularly in mathematics. The school is part of the Bradford Partnership and the Local Authority has undertaken performance reviews of the school and supports the governing body. The Schools Partnership Trust is also working with the school to support teacher’s professional development. I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body and the Director of Children's Services for Bradford.

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