Setting

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

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Julie Bevan Principal Sir John Hunt Community Sports College Lancaster Gardens Plymouth Devon PL5 4AA

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Ofsted visit to Sir John Hunt Community Sports College

Following my visit with Lydia Pride, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 8 October 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 Sir John Hunt Community Sports College

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 Sir John Hunt Community Sports College

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 Sir John Hunt Community Sports College

During the visit, we spoke to you, the senior leadership team and 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.

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Context

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 opened to all pupils on 8 September 2020. Most pupils are attending full time.  Attendance is below the school’s normal level for this time of year. Following a recent dip in attendance, you wrote to parents about the school’s revised COVID-19 absence protocols. The school has allocated a team of staff to provide guidance on remote learning, and support pupils to return to school.  Pupils in Years 7 to 10 are studying their usual curriculum. In Year 11, many pupils no longer study one of their option subjects. You have replaced the option with additional English, mathematics and science lessons. Students in the sixth form are following their usual examination courses.  In practical subjects, such as physical education (PE), music and food technology, you have adapted the content and delivery of the curriculum to comply with the protective measures you have put in place.  Pupils have completed baseline assessments in all subjects. Leaders have

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

adapted curriculum plans in the light of pupils’ new starting points. Teachers are using regular practice to help pupils to recall their subject knowledge.  Year 11 pupils have an extended school day. Teachers are using the additional time to address gaps in subject knowledge and to make up for missed time in practical coursework.  You are finding alternative ways to provide a wider curriculum, for example, with online work experience for Year 10 pupils and virtual university visits for sixth-form students.  You have plans in place for remote learning should this be needed as a result of COVID-19. Remote learning is aligned with the school’s normal curriculum. You have recently surveyed pupils to gather up-to-date information about their ability to access the curriculum remotely.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

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 Plymouth. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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