INSPECTION REPORT LITHERLAND HIGH SCHOOL Litherland LEA Area
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INSPECTION REPORT LITHERLAND HIGH SCHOOL Litherland LEA area: Sefton Unique reference number: 104951 Headteacher: Mr J Donnelly Lead inspector: Mr W K Baxendale Dates of inspection: 22nd - 25th March 2004 Inspection number: 258693 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. INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL Type of school: Comprehensive School category: Community Age range of pupils: 11-16 Gender of pupils: Mixed Number on roll: 861 School address: Sterrix Lane Litherland Liverpool Postcode: Merseyside L21 0DB Telephone number: 01519 284449 Fax number: 01519 490247 Appropriate authority: The governing body Name of chair of governors: Mr A E Trim Date of previous inspection: November 1997 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCHOOL Litherland High School is a mixed comprehensive school educating 861 pupils in the 11 to 16 age range. It has grown substantially since the previous inspection and is now of about average size. The school is up to capacity in every year except Year 7 where the first effects of a big fall in the local birth rate are felt. This is a specialist Language College that also has extra funding through the ‘Excellence in Cities' (EIC) initiative. The school won a Schools Achievement award in 2002 and it has Beacon Status. Young Enterprise operates. The school is in a particularly deprived area of a region that has severe economic problems. Virtually all the pupils are from a White British heritage, with only nine from other backgrounds. Of these, none has English at an early stage of acquisition. An above average proportion of the pupils is entitled to a free school meal. Pupil mobility is low compared with the national pattern; there are two refugee pupils. One-quarter of the pupils is on the schools register of special educational needs; this is above average, but the number of pupils with a statement of special educational needs is very low, as a result of a local decision to discontinue the arrangement in secondary schools. Attainment on entry is below average. Litherland High School - 1 INFORMATION ABOUT THE INSPECTION TEAM Members of the inspection team Subject responsibilities 02928 Mr W K Baxendale Lead inspector 19741 Mr T Smith Lay inspector 04720 Mr G Carter Team inspector Science 19214 Mr G Price Team inspector English English as an additional language 11183 Mr G Foster Team inspector Religious education 23544 Mr G Hedley Team inspector Art and design 22524 Mrs S Innes Team inspector Design and technology Information and communication technology 08070 Mr J Haves Team inspector History Citizenship 19915 Mrs P Hooton Team inspector Geography 12475 Mr S Johnson Team inspector Music 03943 Mr D Innes Team inspector Physical education Special educational needs 20287 Mr D Harris Team inspector French German Spanish 10558 Mr R Kennard Team inspector Mathematics The inspection contractor was: Eclipse Education (UK) Limited 14 Enterprise House Kingsway Team Valley Gateshead NE11 0SR 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). Litherland High School - 2 REPORT CONTENTS Page PART A: SUMMARY OF THE REPORT 4 PART B: COMMENTARY ON THE MAIN INSPECTION FINDINGS 6 STANDARDS ACHIEVED BY PUPILS 6 Standards achieved in areas of learning, subjects and courses Pupils’ attitudes, values and other personal qualities QUALITY OF EDUCATION PROVIDED BY THE SCHOOL 10 Teaching and learning The curriculum Care, guidance and support Partnership with parents, other schools and the community LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT 15 PART C: THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN AREAS OF SUBJECTS AND COURSES 18 SUBJECTS IN KEY STAGES 3 AND 4 PART D: SUMMARY OF THE MAIN INSPECTION JUDGEMENTS 33 Litherland High School - 3 PART A: SUMMARY OF THE REPORT OVERALL EVALUATION Litherland High School is a very effective school that is helping to create a real culture shift in its local community. Languages, including the operation of the Specialist College and information and communication technology (ICT) are outstanding. EIC (Excellence in Cities) funding is used very imaginatively to raise standards. The school does very well by all pupils, irrespective of background; its motto, ‘Achieving By Caring’ works. GCSE results are well above those obtained by pupils attending similar schools. The good quality of education broadens pupils’ horizons excellently. Pupils say ‘It's a great place in which to learn'. Visionary, dynamic leadership by the headteacher instils the confidence to do well. Leadership and management are very good. Governance is satisfactory. Matching the overall quality of provision with the about average cost of educating pupils, the school gives very good value for money. The school’s main strengths and weaknesses are: · ICT is the key to pupils’ good learning. · Teaching and learning are good and all pupils achieve well. · There is a very good atmosphere in the school; pupils want to learn. · Too often, the way teachers mark pupils’ work lacks enough guidance to show them how to improve. · The ways managers spread good practice is not systematic enough. Improvements since the previous inspection are good. Standards have risen substantially and the quality of education has improved a lot. Improvement priorities directed at raising self-esteem and respect are bearing fruit; those to improve management have scope for further development. The key issues of the previous report have received attention and improvements have been put in place, but arrangements for collective worship are unsatisfactory, despite governors’ serious attempts to carry out this duty. STANDARDS ACHIEVED Standards are below average among 11 year-old newcomers and 14 year-olds at the end of Year 9, but they are average when pupils leave as 16 year-olds. Compared with similar schools, standards are well above average by then. Achievement is good throughout the school. Pupils with special educational needs achieve well because of the good extra help they receive. Work in lessons and in books suggests that standards are likely to continue to rise. Pupils have average literacy and mathematics standards and in ICT standards are well above average. The school has put a lot of work into improving the ways pupils can learn; success is showing in rising standards. Very successful concentration on key skills means that nine out of every ten pupils leave with a sheaf of GCSE passes that will stand them in good stead for their next stages in learning or training. all schools similar schools Performance in GCSE/GNVQ examinations at the end of Year 11, compared with: 2001 2002 2003 2003 C C C A Key: A - well above average; B – above average; C – average; D – below average; E – well below average Similar schools are those whose pupils attained similarly at the end of Year 9. Pupils’ attitudes and behaviour are good. Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is very good. Attendance is satisfactory. Pupils enjoy their school life; they develop well as young persons. They are punctual and, because most try their best, they achieve well. Provision for helping pupils to appreciate others' cultural traditions is excellent. There is a bit of immature behaviour; this and any bullying are handled very well. Litherland High School - 4 QUALITY OF EDUCATION The quality of education is good. A lot of work to improve the ways pupils learn is paying off very well. Teaching and learning are good. Teachers make the work interesting and pupils react well, The imaginative uses of ICT to help learning are very distinctive features of provision. Pupils so enjoy learning and are excited about it; they concentrate remarkably well in lessons, but they do not get enough chances to think things out between themselves. Assessment is satisfactory. Data collection is thorough and results are used well to help pupils who are falling behind. The contribution of learning mentors is a strength of the school's provision. When teachers mark pupils' written work they do not give them enough hints on how to do better. Curriculum provision is very good. The curriculum caters very well for the needs and wishes of the full range of pupils. Chances to learn outside lessons and off site are excellent; they raise standards. Language College and ICT provision have broadened learning opportunities remarkably well. The care and welfare of pupils are good. Support and guidance are very good. Pupils feel secure and well disposed to school life in which they learn well and play full parts. Partnerships with other schools, colleges and with the local community are very good. The school makes a real difference locally. LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT Leadership and management together are very good. Leadership is very good; it provides a very clear sense of purpose and direction. Leadership's direct influence on raising standards is outstanding. It gives talent the chance to flourish, fosters teamwork very well and has made the school a national leader in the ways ICT is used to stimulate learning and in the teaching of languages to inner urban pupils. Management is good; it makes sure the school runs smoothly, although the ways senior and middle leaders and managers check on how well things are going has scope for improvement.