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

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Dennis O’Sullivan Headteacher The Chauncy School Park Road Ware Herfordshire SG12 0DP

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Ofsted remote visit to The Chauncy School

Following my remote visit with Cindy Impey, Her Majesty's Inspector (HMI), to your school on 5 November 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 remote visit to The Chauncy 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. Following changes to government guidance and the imposition of COVID-19 (coronavirus) lockdown restrictions, we made this visit remotely to reduce pressure on the school.

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Ofsted remote visit to The Chauncy 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 remote visit to The Chauncy School

During the visit, we spoke to you and members of the senior leadership team. We did not speak to pupils.

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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 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:

 Pupils in Years 7 and 12 started school on 3 September 2020. Other year groups had a phased return to school and learned at home prior to their return date. Leaders expect all pupils to attend school full time.  Attendance is in line with what leaders have experienced in previous years. At the time of the visit, Year 10 were isolating from 23 October 2020 and learning at home until 9 November 2020.  Pupils in all year groups are studying all subjects in the school’s curriculum. Leaders have put measures in place to enable staff to offer extra-curricular clubs.  Staff have been checking how well pupils know what they have learned. Staff use these checks to support those who need help to catch up.  Leaders have provided extra support in English, science and mathematics for pupils in Years 7 to 9. All staff are focusing on improving pupils’ extended writing.  In Year 11, leaders have used information about what pupils know to plan and

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

deliver support in English, science and mathematics.  In the sixth form, leaders have paid particular attention to making sure that Year 12 students make a smooth transition from Year 11 to sixth form studies.  Leaders have measures in place to provide remote education, including online resources. These are currently being used for pupils isolating and learning at home.

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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 board of trustees, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children's services for Hertfordshire. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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