Inspection Report Colne Valley High

INSPECTION REPORT COLNE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Huddersfield, West Yorkshire LEA area: Kirklees Unique reference number: 107766 Headteacher: Mrs Linda Wright Lead inspector: Dr Calvin Pike Dates of inspection: 9th-12th February 2004 Inspection number: 258603 Inspection carried out under section 10 of the School Inspections Act 1996 © Crown copyright 2004 This report may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that all extracts quoted are reproduced verbatim without adaptation and on condition that the source and date thereof are stated. Further copies of this report are obtainable from the school. Under the School Inspections Act 1996, the school must provide a copy of this report and/or its summary 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 Colne Valley High School INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL Type of school: Comprehensive School category: Community Age range of pupils: 11–16 years Gender of pupils: Mixed Number on roll: 1,467 School address: Gillroyd Lane Linthwaite Huddersfield West Yorkshire Postcode: HD7 5SP Telephone number: 01484 222564 Fax number: 01484 222568 Appropriate authority: Governing body Name of chair of governors: Mrs J Jobber Date of previous inspection: 27th April 1998 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCHOOL Colne Valley High School serves 11-16 year old pupils within a large semi-rural area in a Pennine valley on the outskirts of Huddersfield. It is bigger than the average size secondary school. Of the 1,467 on roll, there are slightly more boys than girls, especially in Years 8 and 10. Within the last five years, the school has received a number of awards including: School Achievement Award; Young Enterprise; Sportsmark; Artsmark; Leading Science Department; and Investors in People. It is currently also involved in an initiative for Raising Boys’ Achievement. For the last two years the school has funded its own Learning Support and Behaviour Management Centre to help pupils with particular educational needs. Most pupils come from four main villages within the valley, although the school draws from approximately 14 primary schools. The population is a stable one: many pupils are from families whose parents attended the school. Data shows that attainment on entry is below the national average with relatively fewer higher attaining pupils. The socio-economic background of pupils is varied but families most often work in semi-skilled occupations. The percentage known to be eligible for free school meals is broadly in line with schools nationally. The vast majority of pupils are white and the proportion whose first language is not believed to be English is low. Whilst the percentage of pupils identified as having special educational needs is similar to that nationally, those with statements is above average. Relatively few pupils enter and leave the school other than at Years 7 and 11 respectively. 3 Colne Valley High School INFORMATION ABOUT THE INSPECTION TEAM Members of the inspection team Subject responsibilities 1565 C Pike Lead inspector 14214 G Smith Lay inspector 32686 N Elliot Team inspector English 32362 K Warburton Team inspector Mathematics 10140 R Johal Team inspector Science 13805 L Lowery Team inspector Design and technology 2218 P Dahl Team inspector Citizenship Modern foreign languages 3755 T Hulbert Team inspector Geography History 31765 I Hume Team inspector Information and communication technology Business studies 8744 R Whiteley Team inspector Music 13217 M Butterworth Team inspector Physical education 10209 V Gormally Team inspector Art and design 3704 K Haye Team inspector Religious education 19601 S Taylor Team inspector The inspection contractor was: Altecq Education 102 Bath Road Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL53 7JX Any concerns or complaints about the inspection or the report should be made initially to the inspection contractor. The procedures are set out in the leaflet ‘Complaining about Ofsted Inspections’, which is available from Ofsted Publications Centre (telephone 07002 637833) or Ofsted’s website (www.ofsted.gov.uk). 4 Colne Valley High School REPORT CONTENTS Page PART A: SUMMARY OF THE REPORT 6 PART B: COMMENTARY ON THE MAIN INSPECTION FINDINGS STANDARDS ACHIEVED BY PUPILS 9 Standards achieved in subjects and courses Pupils’ attitudes, values and other personal qualities QUALITY OF EDUCATION PROVIDED BY THE SCHOOL 12 Teaching and learning The curriculum Care, guidance and support Partnership with parents, other schools and the community LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT 17 PART C: THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN SUBJECTS AND COURSES 19 SUBJECTS AND COURSES IN KEY STAGES 3 AND 4 PART D: SUMMARY OF THE MAIN INSPECTION JUDGEMENTS 36 5 Colne Valley High School PART A: SUMMARY OF THE REPORT OVERALL EVALUATION This is an increasingly effective and improving school. Standards are below national averages on entry but in line with them by Year 11. Most pupils achieve satisfactorily; more able pupils achieve well. Teaching and learning are satisfactory but more consistently good in Years 10 and 11. The headteacher leads the school well, but pupils’ progress is inhibited by some aspects of the management of communication. Governors are appropriately challenging in monitoring much of the school’s work. Leadership and management of the school are good, although middle managers do not always focus sufficiently on improving teaching. The school offers good value for money overall. The school’s main strengths and weaknesses are: · Standards have improved each year for the last five and are now in line with national averages at the end of Year 9 and Year 11. · The headteacher, senior staff and governors are effective overall but their aspirations and responsibilities are not understood fully by all staff and some parents. · Good governance means governors know the school and influence its improvements well. · Not all middle managers are sufficiently rigorous in improving the quality of teaching across the school or ensuring all teachers use agreed procedures to encourage good pupil behaviour. · Assessment information is not used fully by all teachers to set challenging enough targets in lessons or give feedback so pupils achieve better. · Literacy skills are insufficiently developed or monitored across the curriculum. · Data is used well by the senior team and governors to inform long-term planning. · Pupils with special educational needs are supported effectively by specialist support teachers and assistants but their needs, and those of pupils for whom English is an additional language, are not met consistently by all class teachers. · Accommodation is unsatisfactory in many areas of the school. · Provision does not meet statutory requirements for religious education in Year 11 and for the collective act of worship. · Links with industry and the business community are very good, having a positive impact on motivating pupils and raising standards. The school has made good improvement since the last inspection. Standards have improved. Systems have been developed to assess, track and improve pupils’ performance, yet the use of such information to improve lesson planning is not used fully by all staff. The sixth form closure has been managed well. A clear line management structure has been introduced with a comprehensive training programme for staff. The quality of teaching has improved, with some excellent practice in a number of departments. The school has gained several awards. Performance management of teachers has been introduced effectively. The governing body has developed clearer structures and is more actively involved in helping to improve the school. STANDARDS ACHIEVED all schools similar schools Performance compared with: 2001 2002 2003 2003 Year 11 GCSE/GNVQ examinations C D C E Key: A – well above average; B – above average; C – average; D – below average; E – well below average For Year 11, similar schools are those whose pupils attained similarly at the end of Year 9 In 2003 standards overall were in line with national averages at the end of Years 9 and 11. Overall achievement is satisfactory but the rate of achievement varies between subjects. Pupils with special educational needs and those for whom English is an additional language achieve as satisfactorily; higher attaining pupils achieve well. The attainment of Year 11 pupils taking examinations in 2003 was unsatisfactory because target grades set by the school were not met in 6 Colne Valley High School some subjects. The achievement of the cohort was only just below that of pupils who, when they were in Year 9, attained similar results. Although this judgement is not reflected in the grade (E) in the table above, it relates to available evidence. This is because the table grade does not include achievement of the proportion of pupils following alternative curriculum in Year 11. Current standards are in line with national averages for pupils aged 14 and 16 and pupils are achieving satisfactorily. Pupils are currently achieving satisfactorily in English and well in science and mathematics in Key Stage 3. Pupils’ personal development, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, is satisfactory. Pupils’ behaviour is satisfactory; they show positive attitudes in most lessons but can easily become disaffected when given work that is too easy or difficult. Most pupils mature well but their understanding of multi-cultural issues is underdeveloped. Pupils generally respect other people’s

Load more