Setting

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T 0300 123 1231 www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Mr Jonathan Crofts Wilsthorpe School Derby Road Long Eaton Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG10 4WT

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No formal designation inspection of Wilsthorpe School

Following my visit with Huw Bishop, Alexandra Burton, Ian Colling and Mark Mitchley, Ofsted Inspectors to your school on 21 January 2020, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to confirm the inspection findings.

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No formal designation inspection of Wilsthorpe School

This inspection was conducted under section 8 of the Education Act 2005 and in accordance with Ofsted’s published procedures for inspecting schools with no formal designation. The inspection was carried out because Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector wished to determine the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements at the school as concerns had been raised with Ofsted.

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Evidence

Inspectors met with the headteacher and members of the school’s leadership team, including the designated safeguarding leaders and the special educational needs coordinator. The lead inspector spoke with the chief executive officer of The Two Counties Trust. She also met with the chair and vice-chair of the local governing body. Inspectors visited lessons and met with groups of pupils from all years, including students in the sixth form. They met with teaching staff and spoke informally with non-teaching staff. Inspectors observed pupils’ behaviour in lessons and around the site. They spoke with pupils informally. Inspectors scrutinised the single central record and the school’s procedures for the safe recruitment of all staff. They explored a range of other documents relating to safeguarding and child protection arrangements. They scrutinised the school’s systems for monitoring pupils’ attendance and looked at attendance records. Records relating to pupils’

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Evidence

exclusion were seen. Inspectors evaluated the effectiveness of the curriculum in helping pupils to understand how to keep themselves safe. Having considered the evidence I am of the opinion that at this time:

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Context

Wilsthorpe School is smaller than the average-sized secondary school. Most pupils are of White British heritage. The proportions of disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are average.

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Inspection findings

Leaders have created a strong culture of safeguarding. An ethos of vigilance, care and support is evident throughout the school. Pupils praise the guidance and nurturing that they receive. They said that this helps them to feel safe. Pupils said that the school is like an ‘extended family’.

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Inspection findings

Staff are well trained and knowledgeable. They take their responsibilities to ensure pupils’ safety and welfare extremely seriously. An appropriate and up-to-date safeguarding policy is in place. Safeguarding procedures are clear, regularly reviewed and well understood. Pupils know who the designated safeguarding leaders are. They know that there are many staff they can turn to if they need help. They are confident that they would quickly receive the help they need. They value the hub and find it a ‘real comfort’.

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Inspection findings

Pupils said that bullying is rare and that they have confidence that staff would deal with any incidents quickly and effectively.

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Inspection findings

Leaders take prompt and effective action when safeguarding issues are raised. They comply with guidance issued by the Secretary of State and keep detailed records. Leaders take prompt action to follow up concerns and get help for pupils. They work with external agencies when necessary.

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Inspection findings

Pupils value their school highly. They enjoy coming to school and attend regularly. Leaders successfully address the barriers that might prevent pupils attending. This includes work with families, in the community and with local primary schools. They monitor attendance closely. The proportion of pupils who are routinely absent is reducing. This includes disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND.

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Inspection findings

Pupils are articulate and well informed about how they can protect themselves from potential risks. Personal, social, health and economic education is delivered to all pupils, including students in the sixth form. This helps pupils to know how to keep themselves safe. For example, pupils learn about online safety, sexting and knife crime through a comprehensive and carefully sequenced curriculum. Informative posters, advice and guidance are highly visible throughout the school and in pupils’ planners. The school website has a dedicated safeguarding section for pupils, parents and carers.

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Inspection findings

Pupils behave in an exemplary fashion. They are civil and respectful to each other and to staff. Staff ensure that they reward good behaviour. The rate of fixed-term exclusions is low and declining. Pupils see the value in behaving well. Consequently, this is a highly motivated, positive and caring school community.

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Inspection findings

The trust provides high-quality and effective support to the school. This includes specialist external support to quality-assure aspects of school leadership, including safeguarding procedures.

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Inspection findings

I am copying this letter to the chair of the board of trustees and the chief executive officer of the Two Counties multi-academy trust, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Derbyshire. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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