Setting

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

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Richard Harrison Headteacher The Market Weighton School Spring Road Market Weighton East Yorkshire YO43 3JF

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Ofsted visit to The Market Weighton School

Following my remote visit with Gill Wild, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 26 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 visit to The Market Weighton 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 visit to The Market Weighton 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 The Market Weighton 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.

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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:

 A small number of pupils were self-isolating at the time of the visit. Around two thirds of pupils have had to self-isolate and learn from home at some point since the beginning of term.  Pupils in Years 7 to 10 are studying the usual range of subjects that make up the school’s curriculum.  Teachers in all subjects have assessed pupils’ new starting points. You told us that you feel only a small proportion of pupils have gaps in their knowledge and understanding. Teachers are using the information from assessments to make changes to current curriculum plans, to help pupils to catch up.  A small number of Year 11 pupils are no longer studying one of their chosen examination subjects. You explained that this is to provide more time for these pupils to rebuild their knowledge in other subjects.  You have found that some pupils in Year 7 need support to rebuild their knowledge in writing. Additional teaching is being provided to these pupils.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

You have also introduced additional lessons for some pupils in Years 7 to 9 who need help with their reading, following the time they missed in school.  Pupils who are self-isolating access education remotely. You explained that remote education covers similar content to the curriculum being taught in school. You told us that you have purchased additional resources to broaden the school’s remote-education offer.  Teachers have had training to help them to deliver education remotely. You have provided laptops and an internet connection for pupils who needed these to access remote education.

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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 East Riding. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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