Setting

CfBT Inspection Services Suite 22 West Lancs Investment Centre Maple View Skelmersdale WN8 9TG T 0300 1231231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 01695 566 937 Direct F 01695 729320 Direct email: jsimmons@cfbt.com

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Miss E Cox Headteacher Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School Tongue Lane Leeds West Yorkshire LS6 4QE

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Education act 2005 to Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School, Leeds

Following my visit to your school on 10 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 Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School, Leeds

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection on February 5th 2013. 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 and a representative of the local authority. The school improvement plans were evaluated. Lesson observation records were scrutinised. There was a tour of the school with pupils and a meeting with Year11 pupils to discuss their GCSE English intervention work.

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Context

Since the previous inspection there has been a restructure of the senior leadership team and a senior leader has been appointed to lead teaching and learning across the school. A history teacher and two English teachers have left the school. A new head of English, head of mathematics and an assistant head of mathematics are to be appointed for Sept 2013.

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Main findings

Governors, the head teacher and senior leaders have clear plans with appropriate milestones in place to address the weaknesses identified in the previous inspection. The plans are robust because they have a clear timescale and have engaged leaders at all levels within the school. Impact can be seen in some of the key areas for improvement. For example the quality of teaching has improved, with 70% of teaching observed by senior leaders now judged to be good or better. The school has ensured its judgements are robust by undertaking joint lesson observations with an outstanding partner school, Prince Henry’s Grammar School, led by a National Leader of Education.

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Main findings

There is now a clear focus on pupils rates of progress in key areas such as English where accurate assessment information is used effectively to ensure pupils are on track. Interventions are carefully targeted where underachievement is identified. Year11 pupils comment positively on the impact of these on their confidence and skills.

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Main findings

The restructuring of the leadership team has led to a regular focus on the quality of teaching across the school. This is seen in the new senior leader’s impact on whole staff professional development and the design of systems that ensure greater accountability for every teacher.

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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

 Maintain the momentum for improvement by meeting the time scales set in the action plan. This will ensure that improvements that are at an early stage of development or inconsistently implemented are quickly and effectively strengthened.  Ensure that there is a sharp focus in lesson observations on the specific aspects of teaching identified in the previous inspection and also on meeting the needs of Pupil Premium and pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities.  Ensure specific interventions for key pupil cohorts (Pupil Premium and pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities) are systematically and consistently implemented and coordinated across the school.  Use the new leadership structure to ensure that the need for high quality marking and feedback is made explicit and that all teachers consistently follow the school’s policy.  Ensure that assessment data provides timely and robust information enabling teachers to

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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 strong partnership with Prince Henry’s Grammar School whose headteacher is a National Leader of Education. This has included joint lesson observations to ensure that the school’s own self-evaluation is accurate. The school has a close relationship with the Local Authority who have been supportive of the schools plans for improvement.

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External support

I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body, the diocese of Leeds and the Director of Children's Services for Leeds and as below. Yours sincerely

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Her Majesty's Inspector

The letter should be copied to the following:

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Her Majesty's Inspector

 Appropriate authority - Chair of the Governing Body/Interim Executive Board  Local authority - (including where a school is an academy)  the academy chain where relevant  Diocese - for voluntary aided and voluntary controlled schools  The Education Funding Agency (EFA) if the school has a sixth form  The person or body responsible for appointing foundation governors if the school has a foundation  The lead inspector.

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