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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Weighton School

Following my visit to your school on 24 June 2021, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to confirm the monitoring inspection findings. Thank you for the help you gave during the inspection and for the time you made available to discuss the actions that have been taken to improve the school since the most recent section 5 inspection.

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Weighton School

The monitoring inspection was carried out under section 8(2) of the Education Act 2005 and has taken place because the school has received three successive judgements of requires improvement at its previous section 5 inspections.

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Weighton School

This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. I discussed the impact of the pandemic with you and have taken that into account in my evaluation.

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Weighton School

Having considered the evidence, I am of the opinion that at this time:

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Leaders and those responsible for governance are taking effective action

in order for the school to become a good school.

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Leaders and those responsible for governance are taking effective action

The school should take further action to:

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Leaders and those responsible for governance are taking effective action

 ensure that the quality of curriculum planning and sequencing is consistent across the full range of subjects.

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Context

School leaders have a clear understanding of the priorities for improvement. Steps have been taken to improve the quality of the curriculum and the attendance of pupils. However, some of the planned improvements have been slowed down by the impact of COVID-19.

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Main findings

There is a lot of support and trust in the school from parents. This school is at the heart of the community. The areas for improvement, raised at the previous inspection, are being addressed. The school’s improvement plans identify the right priorities. You have done this while providing additional support for children and families throughout the pandemic. Parents commented favourably on the support the school provided during the period when schools were only open to some pupils due to Covid-19 restrictions.

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Main findings

You have changed the structure of the key stage 3 curriculum. More time is allocated to key stage 3. As a result of this, pupils are able to experience a wider range of subjects in Year 9. Most subjects have new curriculum plans in place. However, not all of these subject plans are sufficiently well developed. Some of the most effective curriculum planning is in English and science. You acknowledge that there is further work to do to achieve consistency. In areas where more work is needed to develop the curriculum, some subject leaders would benefit from more access to additional external advice.

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Main findings

In English, the curriculum is effective because well-chosen texts allow pupils to develop an understanding of literary studies, linguistics and composition. Teachers have thought carefully about how books link to key themes. Pupils’ knowledge and skills in English are developed sequentially. Expertise within the department is being used to develop reading for pleasure across the school.

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Main findings

The development of the curriculum in some other subjects is more recent. The history curriculum is more effective now because some key ideas are threaded through the curriculum seamlessly. Important themes such as governance and society are followed through from Year 7 to Year 9. Pupils also examine key ideas such as change, cause and consequence. They told me how teachers are helping to make their learning stick.

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Main findings

You recognise that some pupils arrive at secondary school with weak reading skills. On entry to the school, every pupil’s reading ability is assessed. There is a reading strategy to create a culture of reading and to provide more support for weaker readers. The librarian is more involved in supporting the reading programme. The range of books in the library has been expanded.

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Main findings

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported effectively. You have paid particular attention to ensuring that the curriculum meets the needs of pupils with SEND. The special education needs coordinator ensures that pupils in need of additional support receive it. Teachers carefully consider pupils’ support plans when planning their teaching. I saw examples of the impact of this work when I visited lessons. One parent commented, ‘My daughter has SEND, the school has adapted to meet her needs, the support is excellent.’

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Main findings

Staff are very positive about working at the school. They feel that workload is well managed. Staff feel motivated and respected. Training for staff is focused appropriately on the school’s development priorities.

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Main findings

Governors understand the school and its place in the community. They hold school leaders to account. Governors carefully monitor safeguarding and the provision for pupils with SEND. Governors would benefit from greater understanding of the curriculum changes taking place at the school.

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Additional support

COVID-19 has restricted the amount of external support that the school has been able to access. Some support has come from the local authority and from a local teaching school. The work that has taken place to support curriculum development has been effective. However, you acknowledge that further external support would be helpful.

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Evidence

During the inspection, I met with you and other senior leaders. I also met the subject leaders for English, science and history to discuss the actions taken since the last inspection. Lesson visits took place in English, science and history. I met a group of pupils to discuss behaviour and learning and held discussions with members of the governing body. I looked at curriculum plans and the school improvement plan.

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Evidence

I considered 82 responses to the Ofsted Parent View questionnaire and 48 responses to Ofsted’s staff questionnaire.

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Evidence

I am copying this letter to the chair of the governing body, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for the East Riding of Yorkshire. This letter will be published on the Ofsted reports website.

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