King Edward VI School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Students make good progress. The proportion of students achieving five GCSEs at grades A* to C, including English and mathematics, is consistently above average. Teachers have good subject knowledge and high expectations.

There are examples of outstanding teaching across a number of subjects, including English, mathematics and art. Attendance is above average because : students value what the school offers them. Students' positive attitudes are reflected in their good behaviour.

Students' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is strong as a result of the outstanding range of visits, activities and opportunities which... the school provides. The sixth form is good and students achieve well because teaching is at least good and often outstanding. Students make excellent progress on a wide range of courses and are well prepared for their futures.

Strong subject leadership is making a difference to students' achievement, particularly in English and mathematics. The governing body has a realistic understanding of the school's performance and actively seeks to develop its skills in order to better support school leaders. It is not yet an outstanding school because : The achievement of students supported by the pupil premium is rising but it is not as good as that of other students.

Marking is not yet consistently good across all subject areas. Appropriate homework tasks are not always set. Students do not make as much progress in modern foreign languages as they do in other subjects.

Information about this school

The school is much larger than most secondary schools. Most students are from White British backgrounds. The proportion of students who speak English as an additional language is below average.

The proportion of students supported by the pupil premium is below average. The pupil premium provides additional funding for students who are known to be eligible for free school meals, those looked after by the local authority and those with a parent in the armed services. The proportion of disabled students and those who have special educational needs supported through school action is below average.

The proportion of students supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is also below average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress. Twenty-seven students in Years 10 and 11 attend off-site alternative provision for part of their learning at The Bridge Centre in Lichfield and Lichfield and Burntwood Vocational Centre.

The school works in partnership with Chase Terrace Technology College, Erasmus Darwin Academy, The Friary School and Nether Stowe High School to offer a broad range of courses in the sixth form. At the time of the inspection, the acting headteacher had been in post for 8 weeks. An executive headteacher from The Long Eaton School, Derbyshire, currently supports the school for two days per week.