Ada Lovelace Church of England High School

Inspection of Ada Lovelace Church of England High School Park View Road, Ealing, London W5 2JX

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Inspection dates: 11 and 12 January 2023

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

Previous inspection grade Not previously inspected under section 5 of the Education Act 2005 11 and 12 January 2023

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What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders have very high expectations of pupils’ academic achievements. Staff support all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to meet these expectations. Parents and carers generally said that the school is well- organised and that leaders communicate well with parents.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Typically, pupils enjoy school, behave sensibly, and are self-reliant learners. Teachers encourage pupils to be ambitious for their futures and motivate them to aim high. Pupils are safe in school. Staff address any incidents of bullying quickly and effectively.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Staff encourage pupils to make the most of the opportunities that the school provides. Extra-curricular sporting experiences include rowing, cricket and Brazilian jujutsu. Pupils also sing in school choirs and take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme. Uptake by pupils of these activities is high. Teachers provide impartial careers guidance. For example, leaders support all pupils in Year 10 to find appropriate work experience opportunities.

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better?

Leaders have designed a unique curriculum that is broad, balanced and ambitious. Pupils study a curriculum that in some subjects exceeds national curriculum expectations. The computer science curriculum in Years 7 to 9 is highly ambitious. Pupils use extra curriculum time to learn three computer programming languages. Pupils also study ethics in Years 7 to 9. The proportion of pupils who study the English Baccalaureate combination of subjects is high.

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better?

Subject leaders’ curriculum thinking has clarity and purpose. All parts of the curriculum are broken down into small steps so that all pupils, including pupils with SEND, can achieve highly. Subject leaders know with precise detail what they want pupils to learn and in what order they learn it. For example, in English, pupils study persuasive writing while reading Sherlock Holmes text in Year 7. They build on this knowledge in Year 8, and in Year 9 they learn about the art of rhetoric and speech writing. This prepares pupils well to write persuasively at GCSE and beyond. Teachers check extremely carefully that pupils understand what they have learned.

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better?

Leaders provide excellent support for pupils with SEND. The needs of pupils with SEND are met in class and in the wider curriculum. Pupils who struggle to read fluently are provided with help to build fluency and confidence, and to catch up. Leaders continue to monitor these pupils’ reading progress, so that no pupils fall behind.

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better?

Pupils are attentive and hardworking in class. Teachers have established clear routines so that no time is wasted. Pupils move around the school between lessons calmly and quietly and are typically sensible during breaktimes. A small number of 11 and 12 January 2023

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pupils struggle to act respectfully towards their peers, which other pupils said they find unpleasant. Leaders are taking swift and effective action to support selected pupils to improve their conduct and to foster the behaviour that meets their high expectations.

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Pupils are encouraged to be kind, and considerate of others. Extra-curricular activities are of high quality and wide ranging. Staff encourage pupils to try new activities. They check that pupils take part in these regularly. Pupils contribute to the school community through the school council and play a part in the local community, for example through frequent charity fundraising.

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The local governing body carries out its responsibilities effectively in collaboration with trust leaders. The local governing body knows the school well and holds leaders to account for their actions.

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Leaders are approachable, listen to staff and are mindful of their well-being. As a result, staff report high levels of professional satisfaction. They said that leaders do everything in their power to reduce teachers’ workload. For example, staff meetings are timetabled during the school day rather than after school. Leaders have also arranged extra staff professional development sessions on Friday afternoons. Staff said that they receive regular high-quality feedback on their teaching and feel that staff training is excellent.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders with responsibility for safeguarding are experienced and knowledgeable. The school has clear processes for identifying pupils that may be at risk. Leaders have strong professional relationships with local agencies, including the local authority and the police. Leaders provide all staff with regular safeguarding training. As a result, staff know how to identify any concerns and where to report them. Pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe from harm. They know who to talk to if they have any concerns. All staff actions and decisions are appropriately recorded.

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How can I feed back my views?

or to find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school. 11 and 12 January 2023

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In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ refers to those pupils who attract government pupil premium funding: pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years and pupils in care or who left care through adoption or another formal route. 11 and 12 January 2023

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School details

Inspection number 10255280 Type of school Secondary comprehensive

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School details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this school

 The school is part of Twyford Church of England multi-academy trust and connected with London Diocesan board for schools.  The school has not yet had its first section 48 inspection.  The school uses three alternative providers.  The school meets the requirements of the Baker Clause, which requires schools to provide pupils in Years 8 to 13 with information about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships.

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Information about this inspection

The inspectors carried out this graded inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors held meetings with the chief executive officer, headteacher and other senior leaders. Inspectors met with leaders with responsibility for SEND; careers 11 and 12 January 2023

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education; personal, social and health education; behaviour; early reading and pupils’ wider development.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: science, computer science, geography, history, mathematics and modern foreign languages.  For each deep dive, inspectors discussed the curriculum with subject leaders, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.  Inspectors also spoke to leaders about the curriculum in some other subjects.  Inspectors considered the school’s policies and procedures for safeguarding. Inspectors looked at documentation related to safeguarding, including the school’s record of pre-employment checks.  Inspectors met with a representative of the local governing body and the trust.  Inspectors considered responses to Ofsted’s online surveys for parents, staff and pupils.

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Inspection team

Guy Forbat, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Simon Conway His Majesty’s Inspector 11 and 12 January 2023

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regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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