Spalding High School – where pupils ‘challenge themselves to be the best they can be’ – is rated outstanding
A school where pupils ‘thrive in the culture of high aspiration’ has been rated outstanding.
Spalding High School headteacher Michele Anderson says she is ‘very proud of the school’, paying tribute to the many people who all played their role in the centre’s success following its recent Ofsted inspection.
“Our pupils and students are exemplary, our staff and governors are excellent and we have fantastic support from our parent body,” Mrs Anderson said.
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“This report is a testament to the commitment and hard work of everyone involved with Spalding High School and I want to thank everyone for their dedication to this very special school.
“Our ‘pupils’ contributions to the life of the school make it the exceptional place it is to learn.
“This recognition sums up Spalding High School perfectly.”
The school was rated outstanding in four sub categories – quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development and leadership and management. The sixth form provision was rated good.
The report said: “Pupils thrive in the culture of high aspiration that exists at this school.
“They challenge themselves to be the best they can be.
“Pupils celebrate one another’s achievements... they work together to the benefit of all.
“Pupils describe feeling comfortable and confident.
“Staff and pupils have developed excellent relationships.
“Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive the personalised support they need to participate in school life alongside their peers.
“Students in the sixth form, including those new to the school, talk about the welcoming atmosphere that helps them to feel part of the school community.”
The report added that ‘pupils’ contributions to the life of the school make it the exceptional place it is to learn’, highlighting the school council which ‘gives pupils a voice’, anti-bullying ambassadors and a ‘very high-quality school magazine’ called the High Quarterly, where achievements are celebrated.
Spalding High School was rated outstanding in 2009 and received an ungraded inspection in 2020.
Mrs Anderson added she was particularly proud of the findings due to stringent changes in inspections.
“The new Education Inspection Framework is far more rigorous than the previous system, and as we know from the national picture, fewer and fewer schools are securing an outstanding judgement and so we are thrilled that inspectors judged the school as such,” she
added.
The report added that ‘pupils’ behaviour is exemplary’
The report states that ‘teachers ask pupils carefully crafted questions’.
Inspectors visited lessons, scrutinised the work in pupils’ books, held discussions with pupils, staff and governors and considered the parental responses on Ofsted Parent View.
They concluded ‘the school’s curriculum has been deliberately planned to help pupils achieve their potential’ and that ‘pupils develop detailed and sophisticated knowledge’.”
It continued that ‘students in the sixth form enjoy their learning’ and that ‘they value the respectful and focused atmosphere in which they study’
However, the report did point out that ‘students in the sixth form are not as consistently helped to develop a secure understanding of issues related to their study of personal, social, health, citizenship and economic education’.
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