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

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Debra McGloin Executive Headteacher Glossopdale School Newshaw Lane Hadfield Glossop SK13 2DA

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Ofsted visit to Glossopdale School

Following my visit with Peter Stonier, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 29 September 2020, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to confirm the visit’s findings. Thank you for the time you made available to discuss your actions since September 2020, when the government expected all schools to open fully to all pupils.

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Ofsted visit to Glossopdale School

This visit was conducted under section 8 of the Education Act 2005 (as amended) and in accordance with Ofsted’s published procedures for visiting schools while routine inspections are temporarily suspended.

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Ofsted visit to Glossopdale School

Ofsted’s visits to schools during the autumn term are not inspections. We are not giving graded judgements. We did not undertake the usual range of inspection activities and were unable to check other sources of evidence, such as visits to lessons or looking at pupils’ work. The content of this letter gives an overview of our discussions about what has happened in your school this term.

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Ofsted visit to Glossopdale School

During the visit, we spoke to you and members of the senior leadership team, including the senior leader responsible for safeguarding. We did not speak to pupils because of the protective measures in place.

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Context

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s education system is managing the return to full education for pupils, following an extended break in formal schooling due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. In undertaking this focused work, HMI are visiting a broad range of schools. HMI will visit a sample of:

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Context

 approximately 1,200 schools across all Ofsted grades (outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate)  maintained schools, academies and free schools, special schools and centres of alternative provision, including those in cities, and coastal, town or rural communities.

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Context

The information from this visit will feed into Ofsted’s national reporting so that the insights can be shared with the government and the education sector. We did not find any significant concerns during the visit. In such a case, an inspection report would be published on our website and available to parents and carers.

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Context

We did not consider your response to COVID-19 during the spring and summer terms 2020, when the school was not open to all pupils.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 The school reopened to all pupils on 9 September 2020. This followed a five- day phased return for all pupils in different year groups.  Pupils’ attendance is slightly lower than it was at this time last year. The attendance of disadvantaged pupils is higher than it was at this time last year. Leaders communicate with parents and pupils to reassure them that COVID- 19 safety measures are in place. They also reinforce the importance of school, attendance and learning.  All pupils in Years 7 to 9 are following the school’s full range of subjects. Leaders have made changes to the content of some subjects to meet safety measures. They are planning ‘drop-down’ days that will focus on the practical aspects of learning in some subjects, for example design and technology, and science.  Pupils in Years 10 to 13 are studying all of their examination courses.  Teachers are checking pupils’ learning to see if there are any gaps. They plan

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

to use this information to adapt their curriculum plans. Leaders are assessing the reading skills of pupils in Years 7 to 11. They intend to provide literacy support for those pupils who need it.  Leaders are continuing to develop ways of delivering the curriculum to any pupil who is not able to attend school because of COVID-19. They are planning to provide further equipment for some pupils who do not have access to electronic devices. Thank you again for contributing to this important national work. The views and experiences you have shared will help to inform future policy.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

I am copying this letter to the chair of the governing body, 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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