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

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Patrick Sullivan Headteacher Eggar’s School London Road Holybourne Alton Hampshire GU34 4EQ

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Ofsted visit to Eggar’s School

Following my visit with Matthew Newberry, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 3 December 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 Eggar’s 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 Eggar’s 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 Eggar’s School

During the visit, we spoke to you, members of the senior leadership team and staff from the pastoral team. 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:

 At the time of the visit, just over a quarter of pupils have had to self-isolate and work from home because of COVID-19. The majority have had to do this for short periods of time.  Pupils are studying their usual range of subjects. In the first half term, Years 7 and 8 were taught in groups and remained in one classroom for the whole day. This lead to some restrictions on practical subjects such as computing, science and music. Since the half term break, all pupils have now returned to moving around the school and are able to take part in the full range of practical activities.  Teachers have used a combination of formal and informal checks to find out what pupils remember and what learning they might need to revisit. Teachers have found that some pupils seem less confident in aspects of their work, particularly in writing. Specific guidance on how to structure longer written pieces is in place to support this.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 Pupils in Year 11 are continuing to study all their examination subjects. Subject leaders have identified where pupils feel they have gaps in their knowledge and have adapted the curriculum. Extra catch-up sessions are offered to any Year 11 pupil who needs additional support leading up to their final examinations.  Teachers are not currently able to take pupils on the school’s usual trips and visits because of the COVID-19 restrictions in place. There is also a significantly reduced number of after-school clubs. Leaders are keen to reinstate the extra-curricular offer of the ‘Eggar’s Experience’ as soon as possible.  Any pupils who are away from school self-isolating are expected to either attend their timetabled lessons online or study pre-recorded resources. Staff members regularly contact any pupils that are working at home and provide additional support when needed. Leaders have made sure that pupils have

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

access to technology should this be required.

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

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