Seaton Valley High School

Astley Community High School Inspection report

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122374 Unique Reference Number Northumberland Local Authority 327711 Inspection number 2–3 December 2008 Inspection dates Paul Hancock 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 13–18 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 892 School (total) 175 Sixth form The governing body Appropriate authority Mr Peter Hillman Chair Mr Ian Knight Headteacher 1 November 2005 Date of previous school inspection Elsdon Avenue School address Seaton Delaval Whitley Bay Northumberland NE25 0BP 0191 2371505 Telephone number 0191 2376891 Fax number

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13–18 Age group 2–3 December 2008 Inspection dates 327711 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. 2 of 10 Inspection Report: Astley Community High School, 2–3 December 2008

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors and three Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

Astley Community High School is located in south east Northumberland. Many students come from average social and economic circumstances and nearly all students have English as their first language. There are very few students from minority ethnic groups. The number of students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is below average. The school is legally federated with Whytrig and Seaton Sluice Middle Schools and shared the same governing body from September 2008.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 10 Inspection Report: Astley Community High School, 2–3 December 2008

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Grade: 2

Astley is a good school. It was satisfactory at the time of the previous inspection in 2005 and has significantly improved. This is the result of strong leadership by the headteacher working closely with senior managers and governors and provides a good foundation to make further improvements. Students make good progress including those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Key Stage 3 test results in 2007 were average, taken after the students started in Year 9. The school knows challenging targets were not fully met and is taking the right action to make further improvements working closely with the federated schools.

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Grade: 2

The sixth form is improving and provides a good education for students. Attainment on entry is broadly average to below average. Students make good progress and achieve well. Results are average and rising. Since the last inspection, good progress has been made improving the quality of teaching and learning, the curriculum, monitoring of progress, student guidance and leadership. The improvement in guidance for both students and staff has resulted in students selecting more appropriate courses which are often a blend of vocational and academic provision. Teaching is good because it is sharply focused to individual student needs. Students are well aware of what they need to do to improve because they are familiar with the course criteria and the way in which their work is assessed. Relationships are excellent. Students are well supported and are keen to take responsibilities within the school and beyond. For example student’s work is linked with the elderly residents

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Grade: 2

who attend school to develop information and communication technology (ICT) skills. Good leadership is provided by the sixth form director and the team is well focused on raising standards by rigorously monitoring and supporting the progress of students. Many more students are finishing their courses and are leaving school well equipped for the future.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Further increase the proportion of good and better teaching and share best practice.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Develop independent study skills at an earlier age, particularly using ICT.

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Grade: 2

Achievement is good and standards are above average. A significant proportion of students start at the school in Year 9 with average attainment and skills. They make good progress, including those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and standards are above average by the end of Year 11. Key Stage 3 test results in 2007 were average. Boys did not do as well as girls, particularly in English. Unvalidated 2008 test results in Year 9 showed the number of students gaining higher levels in English, mathematics, and science has improved. The school knows challenging targets 4 of 10 Inspection Report: Astley Community High School, 2–3 December 2008 were not fully met and is taking the right action to make further improvements working closely with the federated schools. GCSE results have significantly improved. Unvalidated 2008 results are above average and challenging targets were met and exceeded. They were best in mathematics and science. The

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Grade: 2

school knows where there is underachievement, for example in religious education, drama and physical education and has taken the right action to make improvements.

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Grade: 2

The personal development and well being of students and their social, moral, spiritual and cultural development are good. They behave well and enjoy their time at the school. Attendance has significantly improved and the rate of exclusions has fallen as a result of a range of effective measures taken by the school. Personal, social and health education are well led by tutors with contributions from outside agencies through timetabled lessons and occasional learning days. The school promotes healthy lifestyles through encouraging participation in sport, cycling or walking to school and provides healthy food which students enjoy. Students’ contribution to local and international communities is very good. For example they teach computer skills to older local residents and have excellent links with three schools in Sri Lanka and a village in Ghana. Students help teach French, mathematics and physical education

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Grade: 2

in partner first schools and sixth form students help in main school lessons. Work experience placements are well matched to students’ needs and good links with industry ensure students are well prepared for the world of work.

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Grade: 2

The school provides a good curriculum which is tailored to meet the needs of the students. There has been a considerable change in the curriculum since the last inspection resulting in more rapid progress and higher standards. Student data on entry is used to match students with the best programmes of study at Key Stage 4. Year 9 students take part in a learning programme which provides the skills to achieve future success. The Key Stage 4 curriculum was modified following wide consultation including local employers. There is a good balance between academic and vocational subjects and the choice of vocational subjects is being extended. There is a good range of extra curricular activities which are well attended.

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Grade: 2

The quality of care, guidance and support provided by the school is good and is valued by students and parents. Child protection and risk assessment procedures are in place and all staff 5 of 10 Inspection Report: Astley Community High School, 2–3 December 2008 are appropriately trained. A strong pastoral system exists and there is good support for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The strong links with partner schools and the support at transition is valued by all the students and their parents, ensuring the change is smooth. Students feel safe and know where to go should a problem arise. They say bullying is not a major problem and that the school takes swift and effective action when it is reported. Trained peer mentors are actively involved in pastoral care and support new students at transition. Parents are kept well informed of progress through regular reports, consultation evenings and

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Grade: 2

the student planners which are used as an effective means of communication. Students understand their targets. Good careers education and links with post-16 providers help to ensure progress.

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Grade: 2

Leadership and management at all levels are good. Parents are overwhelmingly supportive and feel that school is very well led and managed. The school provides a sensible framework for improvement. Senior leaders are effective and well informed. This is because the school has thorough and accurate systems of monitoring and self evaluation. They have made considerable improvements since the time of the last inspection guided well by an effective and experienced governing body. Governors take an active role in the rigorous monitoring of the school and provide good support for the leadership when making changes. The successful focus on raising standards has resulted in a much sharper view on what needs to be done. For example, it has involved middle leaders rigorously monitoring the progress of students in their subjects to ensure all students are meeting challenging targets. The school knows the information can be used even more effectively

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Grade: 2

and is taking the right action to do this. Resources and accommodation are effectively deployed to achieve good value for money against a background of old buildings in urgent need of refurbishment and repair. The school is working hard on the opportunities presented through the federation with two middle schools. The school’s links with the community are good and promote community cohesion very well. 6 of 10 Inspection Report: Astley Community High School, 2–3 December 2008 .

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Grade: 2

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 7 of 10 Inspection Report: Astley Community High School, 2–3 December 2008

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Inspection judgements

16-19 School Overall Key to judgements: grade 1 is outstanding, grade 2 good, grade 3 satisfactory, and grade 4 inadequate

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meeting the needs of learners?

Yes Yes Effective steps have been taken to promote improvement since the last inspection 2 2 How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well being? 2 2 The capacity to make any necessary improvements

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Achievement and standards

2 2 How well do learners achieve? 3 2 The standards 1 reached by learners 2 2 How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners How well learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities make progress

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Achievement and standards

1 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. 8 of 10 Inspection Report: Astley Community High School, 2–3 December 2008

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well-being of the learners?

The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 2 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 2 The extent to which learners enjoy their education 2 The attendance of learners 2 The behaviour of learners 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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full range of learners' needs?

2 2 How well do the curriculum and other activities meet the range of needs and interests of learners? 2 2 How well are learners cared for, guided and supported?

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achievement 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 How effectively leaders and managers use challenging targets to raise standards 2 2 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination eliminated 2 How well does the school contribute to community cohesion? 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 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? 9 of 10 Inspection Report: Astley Community High School, 2–3 December 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

4 December 2008 Dear Students Inspection of Astley Community High School, Northumberland NE25 0BP Thank you for all your help when I inspected the school with my colleagues. Please would you pass on my thanks to your parents and carers for returning the questionnaires and say we took all their views into account. I thought you might like to know what we thought about your school.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Astley has significantly improved and is a good school with a good sixth form.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Strong leadership by the headteacher working closely with senior managers and governors is making sure the school continues to improve. ■ You make good progress and standards are above average.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ The quality of teaching and learning is good.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ The curriculum has improved and is better matched to your needs.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Care, guidance, support and personal development are good.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Your teachers and the staff work hard and want to make the school even better. To help them do this, I have asked if they would:

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Further increase the proportion of good and better teaching;

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Develop your independent study skills at an earlier age, particularly using ICT.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

I wish you every success in all you do in the future. Yours sincerely Paul Hancock Her Majesty’s Inspector 10 of 10 Inspection Report: Astley Community High School, 2–3 December 2008

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