Setting

PROTECT-INSPECTION

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 566855 Direct F 01695 729320 Direct email: gail.hill@cfbt.com

p.1

PROTECT-INSPECTION

Mrs Y Sharples / Mrs K Irwin Headteacher Parklands High School Ganworth Road Speke Liverpool Merseyside L24 2RZ

p.1

Special measures monitoring inspection of Parklands High School

Following my visit to your school on 2 April 2014, I write on behalf of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills to confirm the inspection findings. Thank you for the help you gave during the inspection and for the time you made available to discuss the actions which have been taken since the school's recent section 5 inspection.

p.1

Special measures monitoring inspection of Parklands High School

The inspection was the first monitoring inspection since the school became subject to special measures following the inspection which took place in December 2013.

p.1

Evidence

During this inspection, meetings were held with the acting deputy head, the Chair of the Interim Executive Board (IEB), and the Principal Officer (secondary) from the local authority. The joint school and local authority's statement of action was evaluated.

p.1

Context

Since the inspection in December 2013 a decision has been taken to move towards closure of the school in August 2014. The appropriate programme of consultations and representations is being carried out. A final decision on closure will be taken in June 2014. The headteacher is currently on sickness absence. The associate deputy headteacher has recently left and the two assistant headteachers will have left the school by the end of the spring term. The acting deputy headteacher remains and an experienced ex-headteacher, currently working for the local authority, has been appointed to work with the school for two days a week from the start of the summer term. The pattern of staffing is now stable and it is anticipated that they will remain in place until the end of the summer term. Student numbers continue to fall. On the day of the visit there were 188 students on roll compared with 302 at the time of the December inspection. The IEB has been established which is

p.1

Context

working closely with the school’s joint project and change management team, overseeing the implementation of the post-Ofsted statement of action and the planned closure of the school.

p.2

The quality of leadership in and management of the school

Senior leaders and the IEB responded swiftly to the recent inspection. Working closely with the local authority, a joint statement of action has been put in place. The proposed actions combine the need to address all the Ofsted improvement priorities with the wider context of the planned closure of the school. The plan focuses strongly on addressing the needs and futures of the current students in the school. The IEB and the joint project and management team are working closely together to secure the implementation of the plan. They are working in conjunction with a wide range of external partners to monitor patterns of attendance, behaviour and student progress, and to secure the best possible outcomes and smooth transition of the students currently in the school.

p.2

The quality of leadership in and management of the school

Decisive action has been taken to ensure the effective leadership and day-to-day management of the school. Key staff within the school have stepped up to the challenge in order to secure the quality of provision. A wide range of strategies has been put in place to support the progress and to meet the varying needs of the different year groups of students in the school. An additional action plan has been produced to address the needs of the students with special educational needs and those in the resource-based provision in the school. Appropriate revisions have been made to the deployment of staff and to the timetable in order to maintain a meaningful curriculum for all students. Extensive, well- targeted use is being made of a wide range of additional external support to help improve teaching and to work with students at risk of underachieving. Key changes have been made to aspects of the daily life of the school to promote positive behaviour, reduce exclusions

p.2

The quality of leadership in and management of the school

and improve punctuality. Strong provision is being made to support the transition of students to other schools, colleges and post-school education and employment, including the use of counselling facilities and careers advice. A programme of monitoring of teaching through short visits to lessons and work scrutiny has been established and this is being carefully managed to match the challenging context of the school.

p.2

The quality of leadership in and management of the school

Following the monitoring inspection the following judgements were made:

p.2

The quality of leadership in and management of the school

The joint school and local authority's statement of action is fit for purpose.

p.2

The quality of leadership in and management of the school

The school may not appoint newly qualified teachers before the next monitoring inspection.

p.2

The quality of leadership in and management of the school

I am copying this letter to the Secretary of State, the Chair of the IEB, the Director of Children's Services for Liverpool. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

p.2