The Eltham Foundation School Inspection report Unique reference number 100188 Local authority Greenwich Inspection number 385400 Inspection dates 29 February–1 March 2012 Lead inspector Christine Raeside HMI This inspection was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005 which gives Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills (HMCI) the authority to cause any school to be inspected. The inspection was also deemed a section 5 inspection under the same Act. Type of school Comprehensive School category Foundation Trust Age range of pupils 11–16 Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 784 Appropriate authority The governing body Chair Jim Draper Executive Headteacher Chris Tomlinson Head of School George McMillan Date of previous school inspection 17–18 November 2010 School address Middle Park Avenue Eltham London SE9 5EQ Telephone number 020 88590133 Fax number 020 82941890 Email address [email protected] Age group 11–16 Inspection date(s) 29 February–1 March 2012 Inspection number 385400 Inspection report: The Eltham Foundation School, 29 February–1 March 2012 2 of 13 You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when. You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk, or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.ofsted.gov.uk The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) 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 Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. 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. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email [email protected]. You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way. To receive regular email alerts about new publications, including survey reports and school inspection reports, please visit our website and go to ‘Subscribe’. Piccadilly Gate Store St Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: [email protected] W: www.ofsted.gov.uk © Crown copyright 2012 Inspection report: The Eltham Foundation School, 29 February–1 March 2012 3 of 13 Introduction Inspection team Christine Raeside Her Majesty’s Inspector Sarah Hill Additional Inspector Gill Walley Additional Inspector When The Eltham Foundation School was inspected in November 2010, it was judged to require special measures. Subsequently the school was inspected on two occasions. This inspection was carried out with two days' notice. Inspectors observed 33 teachers and lessons, of which six were joint observations with members of the senior team. In addition, the inspection team made short visits to a number of lessons, sometimes accompanied by a senior leader. They held meetings with groups of students, members of the governing body and school staff, including senior and middle leaders. Inspectors took account of the responses to the on-line questionnaire (Parent View) in planning the inspection, observed the school’s work, and looked at a range of documents, including the school improvement plan, minutes of the governing body and school policies. Because of the nature of this inspection, the inspection team did not receive parental questionnaires. Information about the school The Eltham Foundation School is a smaller-than-average comprehensive with more boys than girls on roll. It has higher-than-average proportions of students known to be eligible for free school meals, who speak English as an additional language and who come from minority ethnic backgrounds. The proportion of disabled students and those with special educational needs at the school action level of support is slightly higher than usual; the proportion with statements of special educational needs or at the school action plus level of support is much higher than average. There are higher than usual numbers of students entering and leaving the school at other than the conventional times. The school is currently in a Trust partnership with the local authority and the University of Greenwich. In September 2012 it will join the Harris Federation of academies and become Harris Academy Greenwich Park. It will also become a football academy in partnership with Charlton Athletic Football Club. It meets the current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students’ attainment and progress. Inspection report: The Eltham Foundation School, 29 February–1 March 2012 4 of 13 Inspection judgements Overall effectiveness 3 Achievement of pupils 3 Quality of teaching 3 Behaviour and safety of pupils 3 Leadership and management 3 Key findings In accordance with section 13 (4) of the Education Act 2005, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector is of the opinion that the school no longer requires special measures. This is a satisfactory and rapidly improving school. Students make satisfactory progress overall and GCSE results are rising. For example, the proportion of students achieving five or more GCSEs at grade C or higher in 2011 was well above the national average. However, although the gap is closing, the proportion gaining both English and mathematics continues to be an area for improvement. Overall, achievement is satisfactory, with strengths in English because almost all groups of students are making progress well above expectations. In mathematics, the pace of improvement has been slower, as effective staffing and classroom practice become established, but is now accelerating. The impact of improvements is not yet embedded or sustained; this means that the school’s overall effectiveness is satisfactory rather than good. Teaching is having an increasingly powerful impact on progress because it is constantly under review and improving. Previous weaknesses have been eradicated and much teaching is now good. It is satisfactory overall, because improved classroom methodologies are still being fully established and embedded. Some variation remains: in the extent to which tasks match students’ needs and are adjusted in response to misconceptions; in the impact of marking on progress; and in opportunities for students to articulate their learning. Improvements in behaviour and attendance are marked. Students are now proud to belong to the school and feel safe. Their attitudes to one another and to learning are highly positive. Attendance is close to average overall, although there is still some variation between different groups and the proportion of students persistently absent from school, although falling rapidly, remains an important focus. Inspection report: The Eltham Foundation School, 29 February–1 March 2012 5 of 13 A relentless and uncompromising drive for improvement, led by the executive headteacher, head of school and senior management team has transformed attitudes and expectations, which are now characterised by pride and ambition. Aspirations are high; there is intolerance of low expectations. Robust performance management has led to extensive changes in staffing and a school sharply focused on achieving excellence. Schools whose overall effectiveness is judged satisfactory may receive a monitoring visit by an Ofsted inspector before their next section 5 inspection. What does the school need to do to improve further? Raise standards of attainment to at least the national average and increase rates of progress for all groups of students, especially in mathematics, through consistently good or outstanding teaching. Do this by ensuring that all teachers: match and adapt tasks and activities to the specific learning needs of groups and individuals make effective use of assessment information and questioning to diagnose misconceptions and adjust tasks so that students grasp and embed skills and concepts rapidly increase opportunities for students to work collaboratively and to discuss and articulate their learning in pairs and groups regularly provide detailed and developmental feedback to students on how to improve their work through consistently high quality marking, which elicits student response and accelerates learning. Secure above average or high levels of attendance for all groups of students and further reduce the proportion of students persistently absent from school to well below the national average. Main report Achievement of pupils In 2011 GCSE results at grade C or higher, including English and mathematics, rose by 20 percentage points. Well-founded forecast grades indicate further improvement in line with students’