NORTH WALSHAM HIGH SCHOOL DECLARED ‘GOOD’ BY OFSTED
North Walsham High School is celebrating a ‘Good’ rating from OFSTED – just 20 months after it was rated ‘Requiring Improvement’ following its last inspection.
OFSTED inspectors visited the school at the beginning of the month, and in a report published today (Wednesday 20th May), it rated NWHS ‘Good’ across the board.
Key findings of the report include:
- Behaviour is praised, with students described as ‘courteous and polite’, and demonstrating ‘positive approaches to learning’
- Progress of students is ‘accelerating’, and this improvement is being ‘sustained over time’
- Teachers are ‘successful in raising the aspirations and academic success of students’
- Attainment is rising, and the attainment of disadvantaged students is ‘improving rapidly’
- The ‘spiritual, moral, social and cultural provision for students’ is seen as a strength of the school
- ‘Substantial links’ with local employers is described as ‘effective in increasing the ambition and motivation of pupils’
- The ‘ambition and rigour’ of the school’s leadership is described as having ‘a significant impact on the achievement of students and upon the quality of teaching’
Head teacher Caroline Brooker commented, “Our last OFTSED report, published in September 2013 following an inspection in July of that year, rated us ‘Requiring Improvement’. Whilst we were disappointed with that, we said at the time that we would work hard to turn things around and become a Good school. To have achieved that in such a short time is testament to the hard work and commitment of everyone at the school – staff, governors, parents and students.
“We are delighted not just with the overall rating, but with the comments in the report, which emphasise that we are providing an excellent all-round education for our students – not just in the classroom, but providing them with the skills and confidence to fulfill their ambitions when they move on from the school.
“Our growing reputation is being reflected in the demand for places at the school. In September we will welcome 149 new Year 7 students – a 15% increase on the previous year.
“Once we have taken a moment to enjoy this positive report, we will not be resting on our laurels. Our ambition now is to move towards an even better rating, and we will be putting in place a plan to achieve that over the coming months.”
Chair of Governors Alex Robsinon added, “I want to congratulate Caroline, the students and all of the staff on this significant achievement.
“It is widely known that OFSTED inspections are becoming ever more rigorous, so to move from where we were to being rated ‘Good’ in such a short period of time is tremendous – and I know just how much hard work has been put in to achieve it.
“North Walsham has a high school of which it can be proud. I hope that the local community continues to support what we are trying to do at NWHS, and will help us in our ambition to keep improving.”
The full OFTSED report can be downloaded from the North Walsham High School website at www.northwalshamhigh.norfolk.sch.uk, or from the OFSTED website at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted.