Brighouse High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key Findings

Brighouse High School is a truly comprehensive and good school. There is a core of good and outstanding teaching which enables students to make good progress across a range of subjects. However, some satisfactory teaching remains.

The school is not yet outstanding because not all students make as much progress as they could in all subjects. Students enter the school with broadly average attainment and leave above average. Progress in mathematics dipped last year but the school has put effective measures in place for this year and consequently progress has accelerated.

More-able students make good progress when teaching is skilfully designed to harness their intellect, however, there remains in...consistency in planning for their needs. The sixth form is good. The school has rightly focused its efforts on improving achievement at Key Stage 5 since the previous inspection to good effect.

Students achieve well and are highly positive about their experiences. The large majority of Year 11 students now choose to stay on. The quality of teaching is good.

The best teaching secures rapid progress through forensically planned activities to challenge and inspire all abilities. Students are able to assess their own progress in these lessons because assessment criteria are very clearly focused and explained. Behaviour around the school site is orderly and students are typically considerate and polite.

In lessons inspectors saw some examples of outstanding behaviour when teaching permitted and otherwise mainly good. Some satisfactory behaviour was seen when lesson planning did not account for individual needs. Leaders and managers have continued to secure improvements since the previous inspection.

The curriculum is regularly reviewed and now provides well-organised routes for different abilities. Systems for self-evaluation, monitoring and review are in place resulting in accurate identification of some areas for improvement. However, opportunities are missed to hold all leaders fully accountable through performance management.

Information about the school

Brighouse High School is a much larger than average, mixed 11 to 18 school in West Yorkshire. It holds specialisms in business, enterprise and applied learning. The proportion of students known to be eligible for free school meals is below the national average.

The number of students from minority ethnic groups is low. The percentage of students supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is below average. The school meets the government's floor standard, which sets the minimum expectations for attainment and progress.

The school hosts a base run by the local authority for nine visually impaired students. Since the previous inspection the school has been awarded the Matrix award for Careers Education, has been a Leading Edge and Gaining Ground partner school to support other schools. The school is now an academy under the academy converter programme.

Inspection grades: 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory and 4 is inadequate Please turn to the glossary for a description of the grades and inspection terms