Setting

Chris Bruce Executive Headteacher Millgate School 18a Scott Street Leicester LE2 6DW

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Requires improvement: monitoring inspection visit to Millgate School

Following my visit to your school on 3 December 2013, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to report the findings of my visit. Thank you for the help you gave me and my colleague 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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Requires improvement: monitoring inspection visit to Millgate School

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in February 2013. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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Requires improvement: monitoring inspection visit to Millgate School

Senior leaders and governors are taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the recent section 5 inspection. The school should take further action to:

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Requires improvement: monitoring inspection visit to Millgate School

 sharpen up improvement plans to ensure that there are clear impact measures to be checked during monitoring and evaluation activities  ensure that developments in teaching and learning are applied consistently and evaluated effectively  ensure that all governors are fully able to support and challenge leaders.

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Evidence

During the visit, meetings were held with you and the head of school, other senior leaders, subject leaders, the chair of Governing Body and a representative from Leicester City local authority. The school improvement plans were evaluated. A tour of the school was carried out with senior leaders, during which some students were spoken with about their learning and progress and students’ work books were examined. Inspectors also checked the school’s single central register. Serco Inspections Colmore Plaza 20 Colmore Circus Queensway Birmingham B4 6AT T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T : 0121 6799163 Direct email : lewis.mackie1@serco.com

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Context

There have been considerable staffing changes since the last inspection. As a result of a complete management reorganisation, almost half of the staff are now either new in their posts or new to the school. The school has undergone a significant rebuilding. There has been an increase in the numbers of students on roll of about 12%.

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Main findings

Leaders have swiftly and urgently addressed the areas for improvement as identified in the section 5 report. Action plans have rightly focussed on improving teaching and learning. They do not, however, identify clearly measures of impact and timescales by which actions will be completed. A teaching and learning group has been developed, which has addressed key areas such as marking and assessment, questioning skills and the use of teaching support assistants in the classroom. During visits to classrooms there was evidence of the impact of training and development around these areas. For example, teachers are using the ‘even better if’ and ‘what worked well’ techniques to help inform students about the progress they make.

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Main findings

Attendance, whilst still low compared with national averages, has improved since the inspection; this is because of leaders’ focussed approach to reach out to parents and improve engagement in the classroom. There has been a strengthening of leadership at subject level, which is providing greater direction and clarity of expectation in terms of quality of teaching.

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Main findings

The school is making more effective use of systems to monitor the progress of students. As a result, it has a clearer picture of how well the students are doing. However, leaders do not monitor whole school developments and initiatives closely enough. Consequently, there remains inconsistency in practice. The governing body has been fully reconstituted; it is beginning to take a more active part in monitoring the work of the school but does not yet provide the full level of challenge and support required to improve the school. The chair of governors, new to post, is knowledgeable and experienced. The partnership between the executive headteacher and the head of school is strong; this has galvanized the school and raised the level of expectation and aspirations amongst staff and students.

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Main findings

Ofsted may carry out further visits and, where necessary, provide further support and challenge to the school until its next section 5 inspection.

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External support

The local authority has provided consistent and effective support for the school. It has resulted in improvements in the quality of teaching and the development of subject leaders. The local authority has also developed a productive relationship with the school to ensure that the school plays a full and appropriate part in local provision. The school is federated with an outstanding school, which has provided teachers with opportunities to learn from outstanding practitioners.

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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 Leicester City local authority name and as below.

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