Lancashire Unique Reference Number: 119746 He
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INSPECTION REPORT BURSCOUGH PRIORY SCIENCE COLLEGE Burscough, Lancashire LEA area: Lancashire Unique reference number: 119746 Headteacher: Roger Leighton Lead inspector: Bill Baxendale Dates of inspection: 22nd – 26th November 2004 Inspection number: 268364 Inspection carried out under section 10 of the School Inspections Act 1996 © Crown copyright 2005 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. Burscough Priory Science College - 2 INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL Type of school: Comprehensive School category: Community Age range of pupils: 11 – 16 Gender of pupils: Mixed Number on roll: 762 School address: Trevor Road Burscough Ormskirk Lancashire Postcode: L40 7RZ Telephone number: 01704 893259 Fax number: 01704 893307 Appropriate authority: Governing body Name of chair of governors: Mike Forshaw Date of previous inspection: 19th October 1998 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCHOOL Burscough Priory Science College is an 11–16 mixed comprehensive school, situated in the small town of Burscough, Lancashire. It has specialist Science College status. There are 762 pupils on roll. There are about equal numbers of boys and girls and there is very little movement in or out of the school, other than at the usual times of year. Pupils come from a range of socio-economic backgrounds but overall they are average. The number of pupils eligible for free school meals is average. There are very few pupils from an ethnic minority background and no pupil is at an early stage of learning English. The percentage of pupils on the special educational needs register is broadly in line with the national average. The percentage of pupils with a statement of special education needs is well above average: most of these have specific learning difficulties; others have emotional and behavioural difficulties, autism and physical difficulties. Overall standards of attainment on entry are just above average. The school holds a Sportsmark; it runs a Young Enterprise scheme and is an Investor in People. Burscough Priory Science College - 3 INFORMATION ABOUT THE INSPECTION TEAM Members of the inspection team Subject responsibilities 02928 Bill Baxendale Lead inspector 13786 Susan Walsh Lay inspector 2893 John Manning Team inspector English 30996 Anne Higginbottom Team inspector Mathematics 22985 Jackie Sparkes Team inspector Science 8341 William Wilmhurst Team inspector Information and communication technology ( ICT) 12271 Ian Thompson Team inspector Art and design 10209 Vincent Gormally Team inspector Design and technology 22849 Ronald Catlow Team inspector History; Geography 17404 Judith Tolley Team inspector Modern foreign languages 4697 Robin Black Team inspector Music 14446 Barry Simmons Team inspector Physical education 27803 Joe Clark Team inspector Religious education; Special educational needs The inspection contractor was: ISIS 3, Harrowby Road West Park LEEDS LS16 5HN 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). Burscough Priory Science College - 4 REPORT CONTENTS Page PART A: SUMMARY OF THE REPORT 6 PART B: COMMENTARY ON THE MAIN INSPECTION FINDINGS STANDARDS ACHIEVED BY PUPILS 8 Standards achieved in subjects and courses Pupils’ attitudes, values and other personal qualities (ethos) 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 18 OTHER SPECIFIED FEATURES 20 PART C: THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN SUBJECTS AND COURSES 21 SUBJECTS AND COURSES IN KEY STAGES 3 AND 4 PART D: SUMMARY OF THE MAIN INSPECTION JUDGEMENTS 38 Burscough Priory Science College - 5 PART A: SUMMARY OF THE REPORT OVERALL EVALUATION Burscough Priory Science College is a good school with strong traditional values that bring considerable strengths. High standards have been sustained and achievement is very good. GCSE results were well above the national average in 2003; they improved slightly in 2004. Very good leadership by the headteacher instils the confidence to do well. Leadership and management are good, but governance is unsatisfactory. Matching the overall quality of provision with the below average cost of educating pupils, the school gives very good value for money. The school’s main strengths and weaknesses are: • Very good teaching and learning, pupils’ very positive attitudes and excellent attendance result in very good achievement • Examination results are well above average • Provision is very good in mathematics, science, art, physical education and music • Pupils with special education needs achieve very well • The headteacher's strong leadership promotes a very good ethos • Support and guidance are very good • Provision is unsatisfactory in design and technology due to staffing problems • The governing body does not fulfil all of its statutory duties. Requirements for teaching information and communication technology (ICT), religious education and work-related learning in Years 10 and 11 are not met and the school cannot be sure that all elements of citizenship are taught • Curriculum arrangements restrict progress in design and technology and ICT in Years 7 to 9 The school has made satisfactory improvement since the previous inspection. Better monitoring has improved the quality of teaching, which has led to higher standards. Recent significant improvements to the arrangements for personal, social and health education have resulted in satisfactory provision. Accommodation has been extensively improved, especially for science, music and drama. The provision for ICT has improved significantly; however, there are still too few opportunities for pupils to improve their skills in Years 10 and 11. Statutory requirements for religious education are still not met. STANDARDS ACHIEVED Overall achievement is very good. Examination results over time show well above average standards and an improving trend. The school's performance in National Curriculum tests at the end of Year 9 is above the national average. Standards in GCSE examinations were well above average in 2003 and were sustained in 2004. Standards in lessons are above average in Years 7 to 9 and Years 10 and 11. Boys and girls achieve equally well. Achievement is very good in mathematics, science, art, music and physical education, and good in English, geography, history and modern languages. Pupils with special education needs achieve very well. Staff absence has had a negative impact on standards in resistant materials and food technology and these are now lower than expected. Achievement is unsatisfactory in design and technology and ICT. Performance compared with: All Schools Similar Schools 2001 2002 2003 2003 Year 11 GCSE examinations A B A A 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. Burscough Priory Science College - 6 Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good overall, as a result of very good provision for moral education, good provision for social and moral education and satisfactory provision for spiritual education. Relationships in the school are very good. Behaviour and attitudes are very good; exclusion rates are very low. Pupils’ enthusiasm for their work, excellent attendance and mature attitudes promote very good learning and achievement. QUALITY OF EDUCATION The quality of education provided by the school is good. The school is very effective in catering for pupils' individual needs. The quality of teaching is very good; it promotes very good learning and achievement. The implementation of the national strategy for improving teaching is well established, but there are small pockets of unsatisfactory teaching in French and personal, social and health education. Assessment is good. Very careful checking of pupils' progress, a very effective system of extra help and the teaching of revision and examination techniques all raise standards. The curriculum is satisfactory. It includes a good range of examination courses in which all pupils do well. Support for learning outside the school day including extra-curricular provision is good. Pupils’ personal development is very well supported. Arrangements for teaching ICT and design and technology in Years 7 to 9 depress achievement. The teaching of ICT and religious education in Years 10 and 11 does not meet legal requirements. Arrangements for teaching work-related learning and citizenship are unsatisfactory. Staffing is generally good but staff absence has a negative impact on achievement. Resources and accommodation are satisfactory. The school has a very effective pastoral system. Very good individual support and guidance promote good personal development and very good academic achievement. The