Aylsham High School

121164 Unique Reference Number Norfolk Local Authority 313902 Inspection number 12 June 2008 Inspection date John Mitcheson HMI Reporting inspector

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This inspection of the school was carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Secondary Type of school Community School category 11 °16 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 955 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Sue Platt Chair Mr Paul Mitchell Headteacher 29 November 2004 Date of previous school inspection Sir William's Lane School address Aylsham Norwich Norfolk NR11 6AN 01263 733270 Telephone number 01263 732918 Fax number

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11-16 Age group 12 June 2008 Inspection date 313902 Inspection number .

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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Further copies of this report are obtainable from the school. Under the Education Act 2005, the school must provide a copy of this report free of charge to certain categories of people. A charge not exceeding the full cost of reproduction may be made for any other copies supplied.

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by one of Her Majesty's Inspectors and one Additional Inspector.

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Description of the school

Aylsham High School is a smaller than average sized 11-16 comprehensive school serving the town of Aylsham and its surrounding areas. Approximately 20% of the students come from outside the school's catchment area. The majority of its students are from White British backgrounds. The proportion of students eligible for free school meals is well below the national average. The proportion of students with learning difficulties and disabilities, including those with a statement of special educational need, is above the national average. Attainment on entry is average. The school has been a specialist business and enterprise college since 2002 and is a Training School, holds the Healthy Schools award and the Schools Community award.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 9 Inspection Report: Aylsham High School, 12 June 2008

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Grade: 2

This is a good school with several outstanding features, namely the headteacher's leadership, students' personal development and well-being, the curriculum and the care, guidance and support provided for all learners. It welcomes students of all abilities and interests and ensures that they enjoy school and achieve well. Students told inspectors that they feel happy, safe and 'love school'. The majority of parents comment favourably on the school's positive ethos and the support and encouragement from teachers. In this caring and supportive environment, students make good progress and attain above average standards. Overall effectiveness is good rather than outstanding because students achieve less well in GCSE physical education, graphics and drama, where standards are below the national average. Last year, the proportion of students attaining the very highest GCSE grades was significantly below average in over one

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Grade: 2

third of subjects. In Key Stage 3 in 2007, standards in English and information and communication technology (ICT) were slightly below the national average and above average in mathematics and science. Students made exceptional progress in mathematics; 85% of them attained the expected level and the proportion that attained higher level 6 and 7 was above the national average. In Key Stage 4, 62% of students attained five or more A* to C grades and, significantly, the number of pupils achieving five good grades including English and mathematics rose to well above the national average. Almost all students attained five or more GCSE's and every student left Year 11 with at least one qualification. Students continue to excel in mathematics; over fifty students entered for the GCSE examination earlier this year have already attained a grade C or above. Students' personal development and well-being, including their social, moral, spiritual and

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Grade: 2

cultural education, is outstanding. Their enjoyment of school is shown in their above average attendance. They appreciate the wide range of opportunities to help them learn and lead healthy lifestyles. Students say that they feel safe, that incidents of bullying are dealt with swiftly and they know who to approach if they have concerns. A 'friendly faces' service led by students is exemplary and the school has gained national recognition for its anti-bullying work. The vast majority of students behave well but a small minority of students can, at times, disturb the learning of others. Students adopt responsibility as prefects, house captains, sports leaders and school councillors. Fund-raising for charities and engagement in local community projects is promoted well through an established house system. The quality of teaching and learning is good. Teachers share good relations with students. Their

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Grade: 2

lesson planning, class management and confident use of ICT make learning interesting and enjoyable. Most teachers use questioning techniques well to involve all learners and check whether they understand. In some lessons, the pace of learning drops and teachers talk for too long, which restricts students from working independently. School leaders make regular observations of lessons but do not always share clear judgements with teachers on the quality of the lesson. Not all subject leaders seek external support to validate their own monitoring and help them to promote exemplary teaching within their departments. Students can choose from a wide range of GCSE and vocational courses. In Key Stage 3, students follow an 'opening minds' curriculum that promotes basic skills and includes opportunities to develop their enterprise and business acumen. Partnerships with other local providers have enhanced access to work- based learning and alternative courses for those not suited to GCSE

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Grade: 2

studies. The school has used its specialist status to introduce new courses in ICT and business 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Aylsham High School, 12 June 2008 studies. Students achieve an accredited award following their work experience in Year 10 and a significant proportion of Year 9 students have already met the requirements for an NVQ Level 2 award in ICT. An exceptional range of sports, music, drama activities and school visits contribute greatly to students' well- being. The school prides itself in giving all students the very best care, guidance and support that helps them to develop into confident, aspiring and knowledgeable young people. Exclusion rates are low and the school accommodates a number of new students arriving from other schools. Students with learning difficulties and disabilities achieve well because the quality of care and support they receive is exceptional. All safeguarding arrangements are in place. Mixed

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Grade: 2

age tutorial groups help to induct younger students into the school but tutorial time is not always used effectively. Teachers' assessment of students' progress is effective and is sufficiently robust to spot potential under-achievement. Reporting to parents has improved since the last inspection but some parents say that they would like greater communication with the school. The school's work in promoting family learning is exceptional. The school's success is a direct result of the exceptional leadership of the headteacher. He has created a common sense of purpose amongst staff and put the school on an improving, upward trend. He and his senior leadership team have secured its role as a specialist centre for business and enterprise and a focal point of the community. They can demonstrate that specialist status is now having a significant impact on raising standards. School leaders recognise that further

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Grade: 2

work is required to promote the achievement of the most able students and increase the effectiveness of some subjects. Middle leaders are much more accountable and evaluate thoroughly the impact of their work. There is good capacity to improve further. Good governance has overseen the strategic development of the school and provided the necessary support and challenge to resolve the issues raised in the previous inspection. The school provides good value for money.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Increase the number of good and outstanding lessons so that those students capable of attaining the very highest GCSE grades, do so in all subjects ■ Raise achievement at GCSE in physical education and drama. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Aylsham High School, 12 June 2008 .

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What the school should do to improve further

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: Aylsham High School, 12 June 2008

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Inspection judgements

School Overall Key to judgements: grade 1 is outstanding, grade 2 good, grade 3 satisfactory, and grade 4 inadequate

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Overall effectiveness

How effective, efficient and inclusive is the provision of education, integrated care and any extended services in meeting the needs of learners? Yes Effective steps have been taken to promote improvement since the last inspection How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well-being? 2 The capacity to make any necessary improvements

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Achievement and standards

2 How well do learners achieve? 2 The standards 1 reached by learners How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners 2 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

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learners?

1 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 1 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 1 How well learners enjoy their education 1 The attendance of learners 2 The behaviour of learners 1 The extent to which learners make a positive contribution to the community How well learners develop workplace and other skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being

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and interests of learners?

1 How well are learners cared for, guided and supported?

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and interests of learners?

Grade 1 - Exceptionally and consistently high; Grade 2 - Generally above average with none significantly below average; Grade 3 - Broadly average to below average; Grade 4 - Exceptionally low. 7 of 9 Inspection Report: Aylsham High School, 12 June 2008

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and supporting all learners?

How effectively leaders and managers at all levels set clear direction leading to improvement and promote high quality of care and education 2 How effectively leaders and managers use challenging targets to raise standards 2 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination tackled so that all learners achieve as well as they can How effectively and efficiently resources, including staff, are deployed to achieve value for money The extent to which governors and other supervisory boards discharge their responsibilities Yes Do procedures for safeguarding learners meet current government requirements? No Does this school require special measures? No Does this school require a notice to improve? 8 of 9 Inspection Report: Aylsham High School, 12 June 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

13 June 2008 Dear Students Inspection of Aylsham High School, Norfolk, NR11 6AN. Recently, I visited your school and found it to be a good school with several outstanding features. Your input was vital in helping me to make this judgement, so thank you for allowing me to join you in lessons and to talk with some of you. I also spent time with some of your teachers in lessons, met the chair of governors and read many letters from parents. Throughout all of this, your behaviour was good and you made me very welcome. I was impressed with many aspects of your school. It has outstanding leadership from your headteacher and he is well supported by his senior managers. They and your teachers provide you with an exceptional level of care and support that allows you to enjoy school and achieve well. I know from talking with you and reading the comments made by your parents that sport, music, drama and school visits are highly valued and greatly appreciated. The school's specialist

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

status is helping you to develop your understanding of enterprise and is preparing you well for further education and the world of work. I was concerned that not all of those of you who are capable of achieving A* and A grades in GCSE examinations do so and that some of you do not perform as well as you can in all subjects, so I have asked your teachers to make some improvements:

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Increase the number of good and outstanding lessons so that those students capable of attaining the very highest GCSE grades, can do so ■ Raise achievement in physical education and drama.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Your governors and senior leaders are committed to seeking further improvements to your school. You can help them by contributing your views and ideas to your school council representative and ask them to share them at school council meetings. I wish you all well. Yours sincerely John Mitcheson Her Majesty's Inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Aylsham High School, 12 June 2008

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