Hemsworth Arts and Community College

Inspection Report Hemsworth Arts and Community College

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108274 Unique Reference Number Wakefield LEA 277940 Inspection number 21 March 2006 to 22 March 2006 Inspection dates Mr Clive Moss HMI Reporting inspector

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This inspection was carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Station Road School address Secondary Type of school Hemsworth Community School category Pontefract, West Yorkshire WF9 4HW 11 to 18 Age range of pupils

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01977 624220 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01977 624221 Fax number 1744 Number on roll Mr Albert Manifield Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mr David Sharp Headteacher 13 November 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 277940 21 March 2006 - 11 to 18 22 March 2006 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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Further copies of this report are obtainable from the school. Under the Education Act 2005, the school must provide a copy of this report free of charge to certain categories of people. A charge not exceeding the full cost of reproduction may be made for any other copies supplied.

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by one of Her Majesty's Inspectors and four additional inspectors.

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Description of the school

Hemsworth Arts and Community College is much larger than average with over 1,700 students aged between 11 to 19. The college serves an area with significant social deprivation where there has been a long-term decline in employment opportunities which is being addressed. Few students come from affluent households. Almost one quarter of the students is eligible for free school meals. Very few are from minority ethnic groups. The proportion of students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is greater than that found nationally; there are slightly fewer than usual with statements of special educational need. The attainment of students entering the college is below average. It is a specialist performing arts college and a full service extended school, providing a range of other services to the community.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Hemsworth Arts and Community College, 21 March 2006 to 22 March 2006

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Grade: 2

Hemsworth Arts and Community College provides a good education for its students. It has some outstanding features, particularly the care, guidance and support provided to the students. Standards are rising and students achieve well, given their starting points. Teaching is effective and supports the pupils in making good progress, although students of higher levels of ability do not always achieve as well as they could. There is an exceptionally strong focus on the care, guidance and support of students and practice in this area is outstanding. Students feel safe, secure and well supported by the college. Their personal development and well-being is good overall, but a minority of boys do not always demonstrate enough interest in their learning. The curriculum is good, with a wide range of subjects and courses offered. It is enriched by a similarly wide range of extra-curricular activities, which are particularly appreciated by the

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Grade: 2

students. Parents value the work of the college. Inspectors agree with the college's evaluation of itself. The leadership and management of the college are outstanding. The principal and senior team provide very strong direction and have communicated thoroughly a vision of the college's role within its community. They know the strengths and weaknesses of the college very well. The college has excellent links with other schools, education and training providers in the area, which help students to move with ease from primary schools and provide a flexible curriculum to meet their needs at Key Stage 4 and in the sixth form. Finances are managed efficiently and the college provides good value for money. The college has maintained the excellent features found at the last inspection and made good progress improving others. It is very well placed to improve its own performance further.

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Grade: 3

Standards in the sixth form are satisfactory. The college builds well on the students' modest attainment on entry, to enable them to access a wide range of opportunities in the sixth form. The provision is good. Flexible approaches encourage students to stay on and take their studies to a higher level. The college works very well with local partners as well as some further away so that students have a wider choice of subjects, especially in the vocational field. Strong links with universities inspire students to persevere and to raise their ambitions. This collaborative approach means that students have a wider choice of subjects especially in the vocational field. Teachers monitor the progress of students thoroughly.

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What the school should do to improve further

Focus on: • improving the progress of more able students • promoting good attitudes to learning, particularly amongst boys 2 Inspection Report: Hemsworth Arts and Community College, 21 March 2006 to 22 March 2006 • ensuring students make good progress in all general certificate of education advanced level (GCE A level) subjects.

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Grade for sixth form: 3

Achievement and standards are good overall. The standards achieved by pupils improved in 2005. Attainment on entry is below average. Although results at Key Stage 3 are still below the national average, students make satisfactory progress. At Key Stage 4 students make good progress. More than half achieved good general certificate of secondary education (GCSE) grades, just below the national average, and almost all achieved at least five GCSEs, which is better than the national average. All pupils achieved a qualification, which is also better than the national average. Overall, students make much better progress than average. No group of students is underperforming, although higher ability students do not make as much progress as others. Students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities make much better progress than might be expected given their attainment when they enter the college. College

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Grade for sixth form: 3

leaders have a very good understanding of how well the students perform and maintain a clear and consistent focus on improving attainment throughout the college. Individual students are carefully tracked. They are set challenging targets and those who are underachieving are identified systematically for additional support. The college sets and achieves realistic targets. In the sixth form achievement and standards are satisfactory. Attainment on entry is below average and many students are entered for lower level qualifications before proceeding to higher levels. Most students stay on from Year 12 to Year 13. Standards at GCE A level are satisfactory, but there are wide variations in students' progress in different subjects which the college is addressing.

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Grade: 2

Students' personal development is good. Their behaviour is good and they respond well to the friendly atmosphere and positive relationships within the college. Bullying is very rare and quickly dealt with. They are keen to learn, work hard and take pride in their work, although a minority of boys do not always take enough interest in learning. Students enjoy the many clubs and activities, music and other artistic performances and sporting activities. These improve their confidence, social skills and cultural awareness. Students feel safe in the college and adopt safe practices themselves. Personal, social and health education and citizenship is good. At Key Stage 3, the 'Reflections' programme is particularly effective in providing for students' spiritual development. The college puts great emphasis on teaching students how to develop a healthy and safe lifestyle. Their future economic well-being is helped by

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Grade: 2

good careers education, work related learning and 'Higher Education Fairs'. The college council and students' post-16 committee are very effective. Students of all ages offer 3 Inspection Report: Hemsworth Arts and Community College, 21 March 2006 to 22 March 2006 ideas about many aspects of college life because they know that their views are taken seriously. There is a high level of involvement in charitable work organised through the college council which helps students develop a sense of responsibility and an awareness of other cultures. Attendance is satisfactory with very few unauthorised absences.

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Grade for sixth form: 3

The quality of teaching and learning is good in the main college and satisfactory in the sixth form. Lessons have a clear focus and teachers successfully demand high standards of behaviour. There is some outstanding practice. The best lessons inspire and challenge students to extend themselves by setting high expectations and providing activities that are carefully planned to match individual needs, including those of students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The marking of students' work is good. Teachers make very effective use of assessment information to track students' progress and set appropriate targets. As a result, most students have a good understanding of how they can improve the standard of their work. These factors enable them to make good progress. There is some variation in the quality of teaching in the sixth form. Senior leaders have recognised this and introduced strategies which

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Grade for sixth form: 3

are leading to more interactive and independent learning, but these have not yet had sufficient impact on students' achievement. A successful programme of lesson observations throughout the college is helping teachers to improve lessons further.

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Grade: 2

The curriculum is good. All statutory requirements are met. The college makes good use of its arts specialism to enrich the curriculum offered to pupils through innovative cross-curricular lessons and activities, and for work in the community. Opportunities are open to all and almost every pupil takes some part in an extensive range of extra-curricular activities. The curriculum has been improved leading to higher standards and a better response to local skills shortages. The alternative curriculum choices introduced in the last three years for students at Key Stage 4 have contributed to the much improved results in 2005. The curriculum is often adapted to meet the particular needs of individual students. Those who are at risk of underachieving because of weakness in literacy when they enter in Year 7 follow a programme providing intensive support to improve their literacy which helps them to have full access to what the

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Grade: 2

college offers. This very flexible approach, matching the curriculum to the needs and aspirations of all learners has also had a positive impact on the motivation, attendance and skills development of some groups of students. 4 Inspection Report: Hemsworth Arts and Community College, 21 March 2006 to 22 March 2006 The curriculum in the sixth form is good. New courses have been introduced which have enabled students to continue their studies from Key Stage 4 much more easily. These have not yet had time to feature in performance tables. Courses developing students' work-related skills are tailored to meet the needs of individuals and a large minority is helped to progress to advanced levels through three-year programmes of study. These approaches have enabled a broader range of students to take advantage of sixth form study. There are very strong links with other schools and work-based learning providers, which enable the school to offer more courses to students and to

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Grade: 2

take part in and provide them with experience of working with students from other sixth forms. These opportunities raise the aspirations of students and enable them to make better informed choices about how to continue their studies or seek employment. The college is responding very well to developing a 14 to 19 curriculum.

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Grade: 1

The care, guidance and support of students are outstanding, including in the sixth form. Every individual is treated with respect and dignity; in this college, every child matters. Support for the welfare of students is comprehensive and carried out thoroughly throughout the age range. Teachers and support staff know students very well and go to great pains to meet individual needs. The students' welfare teams provide excellent help and support for those with personal or family problems. This, together with the extensive range of effective pastoral support, ensures that there is a wide range of opportunities for students to talk to trusted adults. As a result, they feel that the college provides a safe, secure and supportive environment for learning. Child protection requirements and health and safety procedures are firmly established and understood by the staff. Students' progress is monitored closely, using a

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Grade: 1

comprehensive profile document, which includes their own self-evaluations. In the sixth form, academic progress is tracked carefully by personal tutors. Excellent arrangements for moving students from primary school to Year 7 ensure they are well prepared for the change. Students rightly speak highly of this process and the support they receive. Older students receive very good support when choosing options and making career choices. Vulnerable students and those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are successfully supported through the pupil inclusion project which provides rehabilitation and counselling programmes and tracks their progress carefully. In the sixth form, the support available enables students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to integrate well. The college vigorously promotes social inclusion and combats bullying. It has very effective links with parents, carers and outside agencies,

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Grade: 1

such as Connexions and the education welfare service. Students' achievements are celebrated thoughtfully and there are good communications with parents and carers. 5 Inspection Report: Hemsworth Arts and Community College, 21 March 2006 to 22 March 2006

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Grade for sixth form: 2

The quality of leadership and management is outstanding overall. The leadership of the experienced principal is exceptional. He has a very clear strategic vision for the college and has achieved a very high level of commitment from the staff. He has developed a very cohesive and highly influential leadership team that has focused the college on raising attainment. Middle managers rightly talk of being encouraged, challenged and inspired by the leadership team. As a result, they in turn are successful in engaging the staff in a wide range of well chosen initiatives which are bringing about higher standards. Morale is very high, students achieve well and their well-being is assured. The governing body has a clear and accurate understanding of performance in most areas of college life and hold senior managers to account. The leadership of the sixth form is good. Important improvements to the curriculum and in the use of

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Grade for sixth form: 2

data on students' progress have been put in place and are beginning to have an impact. The performance of the college is judged well using a broad range of measures and comparisons with other schools. Senior leaders have written a clear and well constructed development plan, which is used to very good effect and is reflected in plans of similar quality for all parts of the college. Very good use is made of teams from across the college to drive improvement. As a result, middle managers are highly influential and effective in bringing about a wide range of improvements, particularly those that have resulted in a more flexible curriculum. The college makes excellent use of data on pupils' performance to identify where improvements are needed and decisive action is taken. The college judges the quality of teaching and learning accurately and uses the outcomes very well in the professional development of teachers. A rigorous approach to the professional

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Grade for sixth form: 2

development of staff ensures a high standard of leadership and management and has led to improvements in the curriculum and assessment. Performance management is very well established and used skilfully as part of professional development. The college makes very effective use of a wide range of initiatives and national quality awards to bring about improvements. For example, specialist performing arts college status has been influential in extending the range of teaching styles, the variety of extra-curricular opportunities for pupils and strengthening the already very good links with primary schools. 6 Inspection Report: Hemsworth Arts and Community College, 21 March 2006 to 22 March 2006 .

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Grade for sixth form: 2

set out in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 7 Inspection Report: Hemsworth Arts and Community College, 21 March 2006 to 22 March 2006

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Inspection judgements

16-19 School Overall Key to judgements: grade 1 is outstanding, grade 2 good, grade 3 satisfactory, and grade 4 inadequate

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Inspection judgements

3 2 How effective, efficient and inclusive is the provision of education, integrated care and any extended services in meeting the needs of learners? 1 1 How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well-being? NA NA The quality and standards in foundation stage 1 1 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation Yes Yes The capacity to make any necessary improvements Yes Yes Effective steps have been taken to promote improvement since the last inspection

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Inspection judgements

Achievement and standards 3 2 How well do learners achieve? 3 3 The standards 1 reached by learners

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Inspection judgements

3 2 How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners 1 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

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Inspection judgements

Personal development and well-being 2 2 How good is the overall personal development and well-being of the learners? 2 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 2 The behaviour of learners 3 The attendance of learners 2 How well learners enjoy their education 2 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 3 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which learners make a positive contribution to the community How well learners develop workplace and other skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being

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Inspection judgements

The quality of provision 3 2 How effective are teaching and learning in meeting the full range of the learners' needs? 2 2 How well do the curriculum and other activities meet the range of needs and interests of learners? 1 1 How well are learners cared for, guided and supported?

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Inspection judgements

Grade 1 - Exceptionally and consistently high; Grade 2 - Generally above average with none significantly below average; Grade 3 - Broadly average; Grade 4 - Exceptionally low.

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Annex A

Leadership and management 2 1 How effective are leadership and management in raising achievement and supporting all learners? How effectively leaders and managers at all levels set clear direction leading to improvement and promote high quality of care and education How effectively performance is monitored, evaluated and improved to meet challenging targets, through quality assurance and self-review How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination tackled so that all learners achieve as well as they can How effectively and efficiently resources are deployed to achieve value for money The extent to which governors and other supervisory boards discharge their responsibilities insufficient evidence Yes The adequacy and suitability of staff to ensure that learners are protected

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Annex A

The extent to which schools enable learners to be healthy Yes Learners are encouraged and enabled to eat and drink healthily Yes Learners are encouraged and enabled to take regular exercise Yes Learners are discouraged from smoking and substance abuse Yes Learners are educated about sexual health The extent to which providers ensure that learners stay safe Yes Procedures for safeguarding learners meet current government requirements Yes Risk assessment procedures and related staff training are in place Yes Action is taken to reduce anti-social behaviour, such as bullying and racism Yes Learners are taught about key risks and how to deal with them The extent to which learners make a positive contribution Yes Learners are helped to develop stable, positive relationships Yes Learners, individually and collectively, participate in making decisions that affect them Yes Learners are encouraged to initiate, participate in and manage activities in school and the

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Annex A

wider community The extent to which schools enable learners to achieve economic well-being Yes There is provision to promote learners’ basic skills Yes Learners have opportunities to develop enterprise skills and work in teams Yes Careers education and guidance is provided to all learners in key stage 3 and 4 and the sixth form Yes Education for all learners aged 14–19 provides an understanding of employment and the economy

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

We are grateful for all the help you gave us when we visited your college. We enjoyed talking with you in classrooms, discussion groups and around the college. The things you said to us have played a very important part in helping us understand what Hemsworth Arts and Community College is like. We were very impressed by many things that we found at the college. The college is run extremely well by the principal, teachers and other staff who work with them. We saw lessons that were often good and sometimes outstanding. In these lessons you enjoyed taking part and learned well. We were impressed by the progress that many of you make. The college works very hard to ensure that you all feel safe, do your best and get good advice and support in all aspects of growing up to help you get ready for when you leave college. You have a wide choice of subjects to study and activities to be involved in. In return, you behave well around the

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

college and were very polite to us as visitors. We have some suggestions for things that could be improved. We think that the college needs to carry on looking for more ways to help even more of you get better examination results, particularly those of you who are more able and in the sixth form. We think that a small number of you, particularly some boys, could help with this by understanding more how important learning is. We wish you and everyone who works with you at the college every success in making a good college even better.

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