Setting

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

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Mark Golden Headteacher Kirkby College Tennyson Street Kirkby-in-Ashfield Nottinghamshire NG17 7DH

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Ofsted visit to Kirkby College

Following my visit with Peter Stonier, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 6 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 Kirkby 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 Kirkby 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 Kirkby College

During the visit, we spoke to you, members of the senior leadership team and leaders 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, a different 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 6 September 2020. This followed a phased return for pupils in different year groups.  Pupils’ attendance is the same as what it was this time last year. Some pupils have improved their attendance, however. More pupils are attending all the time and fewer pupils have high absence. Leaders communicate with parents to reinforce the importance of school, learning and attendance. They also reassure parents and pupils that COVID-19 safety measures are in place.  All pupils in Years 7 to 9 are following the school’s full range of subjects. Leaders have made some changes to the content of subjects. They have prioritised some areas of learning. For example, there is a greater focus on emotional well-being in the personal development curriculum. Leaders have plans in place for all pupils to return to the school’s usual curriculum by summer 2021.  Pupils in Years 10 to 11 and the sixth form are studying all of their examination

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

courses.  Teachers have checked the learning of all Year 11 pupils to see if there are any gaps. Leaders have assessed the reading skills of pupils in Year 7. They intend to use standardised assessments for all pupils in Years 7 to 10. Leaders plan to use this information to adapt their curriculum. They intend to provide literacy and numeracy support for those pupils who need it.  Leaders are continuing to develop ways of delivering the curriculum to any pupil who is absent because of COVID-19. They are planning to provide equipment for some pupils who do not have electronic devices, and remote learning for all pupils if there is a need. 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 board of trustees, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Nottinghamshire. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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