John Hanson Community School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The recently appointed headteacher is resolute in his ambition for pupils to achieve their best. Governors support the headteacher very effectively. As a result, expectations of staff members' performance have increased significantly.

The new approaches to improve teaching, learning and assessment in both key stages have rapidly raised standards for current pupils across most subjects. In many subjects, planning for the most able pupils is increasingly adroit. Teachers now have high expectations of what these pupils can achieve.

Disadvantaged pupils are making better progress than in the past. However, some of these pupils need further he...lp to catch up with their peers. Although the quality of teaching in English, mathematics and science has improved, there is still less effective teaching in modern foreign languages and humanities, especially for most-able pupils.

Leaders have developed and expanded the curriculum in both key stages so that pupils experience a wide range of subjects during their time at school. Newly appointed middle leaders are increasingly effective, but are not yet confident in evaluating pupils' progress at this stage of the academic year. Pupils receive especially informative advice and guidance on careers.

As a result, they are very well prepared for their future. In some subjects, most-able pupils lack confidence in extending their written responses to achieve the highest grades. Pupils enjoy coming to school, and the attendance of all groups is improving.

The rates of attendance of most pupils now exceed the national average. Most parents and carers are happy with the school and would recommend it to others. Many commented positively on the impact of the new headteacher.

Pupils relish the leadership opportunities they experience in the classroom, on the sports field and around the school. Pupils are polite and behave well. There are good systems in place to keep pupils safe.

Information about this school

John Hanson Community School is an average-sized 11–16 school. The headteacher was appointed in June 2017 and has appointed two new senior leaders and two new middle leaders this academic year. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is well below the national average.

Most pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils with an education, health and care plan is below the national average. The school uses alternative provision, at the Andover Education Centre, for four pupils.