“schools in Calderdale”

Moorbottom Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX2 9SR · Part of Impact Education Multi Academy Trust

Information about this school

 The Whitley AP Academy converted to become an academy school in August 2019. When its predecessor school, Calderdale PRU, was last inspected by Ofsted, it was judged to be good overall.  The school is one of eight schools in Impact Education Multi Academy Trust.  The school caters for pupils who have been permanently excluded from mainstream schools and for pupils who are at risk of permanent exclusion. Pupils join the school throughout the academic year.  Pupils aged between seven and 11 years attend a dedicated provision based at Lee Mount Primary School in Halifax. This is for up to 16 pupils. There are 11 pupils who currently attend the provision.  All pupils have SEND. Many have social, emotional and mental health needs.  The school does not use any alternative education providers.  The school measures itself against the Gatsby benchmarks to ensure pupils receive high-quality careers advice.

Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX7 5QN

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Inspection of The Calder High School, Calderdale, HX7 5QN Thank you very much for the very enjoyable two days that my colleagues and I recently spent inspecting your school. It was made all the more pleasant by your behaviour and attitude towards us. We were impressed about how willing you were to talk about your school and it was interesting to hear your views. We found your school to be good and it has improved since the last inspection. The curriculum is now outstanding which means that you have an excellent range of subjects that you can choose from as you travel through the school and into the sixth form. Your personal development is good and you are being given the skills to grow into successful and confident young adults. You said that behaviour has improved since the introduction of the 'Behaviour for Learning' policy, but you would prefer if it was more consistently applied by all staff. Also, although you

Moorbottom Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX2 9SR · Part of Impact Education Multi Academy Trust

Background

This is the second ungraded inspection since we judged the predecessor school, Calderdale PRU, to be good in December 2013.

Moorbottom Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX2 9SR · Part of Impact Education Multi Academy Trust

Existing academy: The Whitley Ap Academy URN: 146204 Predecessor school: Calderdale PRU URN: 133693

Luddendenfoot, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX2 6PB

Description of the school

This average sized school opened in new premises in 1993 following the merger of three small schools. It is situated in a rural setting and serves a mixed community of local authority and private housing. The proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals is below average. The proportion of children from minority ethnic groups is well below average and none are in the early stages of learning the English language. The school holds the Calderdale Healthy School Award, the ActiveMark Award, the Basic Skills Agency Quality Mark and is recognised by Investors in People.

St Mary's CE J&I School, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX6 3EJ

Information about this school

 This school is one of two schools in the Calderdale Village Schools Federation, which was formed in September 2020.  The school’s executive headteacher works across two schools in the federation. There is also a head of school, who works at St Mary’s CofE (VC) J and I School full time.  The school is a member of the Diocese of Leeds and has a Christian character.  The school’s last section 48 inspection took place in July 2017.  The school does not use any alternative providers.

St Mary's CE J&I School, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX6 3EJ

Information about this school

 This school is one of two schools in the Calderdale Village Schools Federation, which was formed in September 2020.  The school’s executive headteacher works across two schools in the federation. There is also a head of school, who works at St Mary’s CofE (VC) J and I School full time.  The school was judged to be outstanding at its most recent inspection of denominational education and the content of the school’s collective worship under section 48 of the Education Act 2005. The school’s most recent section 48 inspection took place on 4 July 2017. Section 48 inspections were suspended due to the COVID- 19 pandemic. They restarted in September 2021. The next section 48 inspection will be within eight years of the previous section 48 inspection.  The school does not use alternative provision for its current pupils.

Norland, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX6 3RN

Information about this school

 This school is one of two schools in the Calderdale Village Schools Federation.  The school’s executive headteacher works across two schools in the federation. There is also a head of school who works at Norton CE School full time.  The school is smaller than the average-sized primary school.  The school is voluntary controlled. The last section 48 inspection carried out by the diocese took place in October 2017.

Skircoat Green, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX3 0RZ

Information about this school

 Ravenscliffe is a Secondary and Sixth Form Special School in Calderdale Local Authority.  The school caters for pupils with the full range of special educational needs and/or disabilities.  All pupils have education, health and care plans.  The current headteacher was appointed in 2020.  Since the previous inspection, the school has expanded and now has a site for sixth form students at Springhall. This is a short drive from the main site.

Warley, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX2 7QD

Description of the school

This small rural school admits children from a wide social spectrum in an area that contains some pockets of deprivation. All children are from White British families. Children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are broadly typical in number. Since the school's last inspection in 2001, its accommodation has been transformed providing additional space for teaching. The school was lodged temporarily in a local secondary school while building work was completed. Moreover, significant staff changes have occurred. The school possesses the Basic Skills Quality Mark, the Investors in People award and it was the first school to gain Calderdale's Healthy Schools' Award. The governors are in the process of appointing a new headteacher.

Norland, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX6 3RN

About this inspection

The school is part of a federation called The Calderdale Village Schools Federation.

St Mary's CE J&I School, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX6 3EJ

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Since the last inspection, the school has been through a period of significant change. Governors have established the Calderdale Village Schools Federation and have appointed 10 January 2023

Exley, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX3 9LG

Information about this school

 The school uses Calderdale’s Pupil Referral Unit and Calderdale College to provide alternative off-site provision for some pupils.

Exley, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX3 9LG

Behaviour

Pupils are aware of the different forms of bullying including cyber bullying, homophobic bullying and racist bullying. Leaders and managers have improved the recording of bullying incidences and are able to convincingly demonstrate that reoffending rates are low.  There are effective links between school and alternative providers including Calderdale College and Calderdale Pupil Referral Unit. School leaders regularly check pupils’ attendance and progress. Some, but not all, pupils have significantly improved their attendance and progress while at these alternative providers.

Willow Street, Sowerby Bridge, Halifax, HX6 2BU

Information about this school

 The school is situated in the town of Sowerby Bridge.  The school was registered in January 2021  The head of school has been in post for just over a year.  The school has been set up to meet the needs of pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs and other associated special educational needs and/or disabilities.  Most of the pupils who attend the school are from Bradford and Calderdale local authorities.  The school does not use alternative education provision.

Willow Street, Sowerby Bridge, Halifax, HX6 2BU

Information about this school

 The school is situated in the town of Sowerby Bridge.  The school was registered in January 2021  The school has been set up to meet the needs of pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs and other associated special educational needs and/or disabilities.  Most of the pupils who attend the school are from Bradford and Calderdale local authorities.  The school does not use alternative education provision.

Triangle, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX6 3NJ

Description of the school

This is a smaller than average village school. It is popular, serving a large semi-rural district with nearly a third of its pupils travelling from outside its immediate catchment area. Almost all pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is below average while the proportion with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is broadly average. The school was awarded the Basic Skills Quality Mark and Calderdale's Healthy Schools award in 2005. It also holds the Football Association Charter Mark, awarded in 2006. The headteacher was appointed since the school's last inspection in 2002. Other recent appointments have ensured stability in staffing. A playgroup and before and after school care, provided independently, are both available on the school site. These were inspected in December 2006 and January 2007 respectively and separate reports are available from the school. The school

Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX3 9LG · Part of South Pennine Academies

Information about this school

 The school uses two alternative providers: Calderdale College and Orange Box.  The school is part of the South Pennine Academies Trust.  The executive principal took up post in February 2022 and the head of school in December 2020.

Cragg Vale, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX7 5TF

Safeguarding

 The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.  The school manager has a clear understanding of safeguarding requirements and has ensured that the school’s safeguarding policy is clearly displayed on the school’s website.  Working closely with the safeguarding children’s team from Calderdale local authority, the school manager has ensured that the safeguarding policy meets requirements and other safeguarding documentation, including policies and procedures, are written to a high standard.  All the mandatory pre-employment checks have been carried out and the school’s single central record of these checks meets legislative standards.  Staff are knowledgeable about safeguarding and are clear about what they need to do should a child have difficulties. They receive regular safeguarding updates from the local authority and the school manager. Regular quizzes are set to test staff levels of understanding and knowledge of current safeguarding concerns both in the area and

Willow Street, Sowerby Bridge, Halifax, HX6 2BU

Information about this school

 The school is situated in the centre of Sowerby Bridge.  The pupils who attend are mostly from the surrounding local authorities of Calderdale and Bradford.  The school meets the needs of pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. Some pupils also have additional needs, including related to autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.  This is the school’s second material change inspection.  The school has outgrown its current building and has purchased a much larger building, which it is planned will be able to accommodate more pupils. This building, however, will not be ready to receive pupils until the autumn term of 2024 at the earliest.  The school is currently exceeding its registration by five pupils. The school has asked for an increase in pupil numbers from 27 to 45 in order to manage the demand for places at the school.  As an interim arrangement, the school has leased a building from Dene Field