Marden High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The inspiring leadership of the headteacher, supported by effective leaders and managers, have rapidly transformed the quality of learning. Highly effective governance makes a strong contribution to the school's performance.

Senior leaders know exactly how to sustain the considerable gains made since the previous inspection. The standards that students attain have improved year on year. In 2013, standards in English and mathematics were high.

Most- able students attain grades much higher than the national average. Good and often outstanding teaching ensures that students from all starting points make rapid progress and achieve well. They... are frequently inspired to solve problems and work things out for themselves.

Students with special educational needs, including those hearing impaired students, achieve exceptionally well, because : intervention and support are so effective. Students' exemplary behaviour is characterised by high levels of engagement and commitment in lessons, across subjects. They are polite, courteous and considerate and are supported very effectively by their excellent spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

A rich curriculum provides a wide variety of opportunities for students to achieve highly. Students are exceptionally well cared for, supported and feel safe. The school enjoys the trust and confidence of almost all parents.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Rapid progress and high levels of achievement are not yet fully sustained in all subjects over time. In the few lessons that require improvement, tasks are not demanding enough, are insufficiently thought-provoking and questioning does not follow students' thinking closely enough.

Information about this school

This is a smaller than average sized secondary school which has specialist mathematics, science and media arts status.

The proportion of students supported through school action is below average. The proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is broadly average. The school has specialist provision for students who are hearing impaired.

Currently, a well below average proportion of students are known to be eligible for pupil premium funding. The pupil premium is additional funding for those pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals, children who are looked after by the local authority and children from service families. Most students are from White British communities with a very small minority of students from minority ethnic groups.

Twenty five Year 10 and 14 Year 11 students attend a vocational engineering course at Tyne Metropolitan College once a week and five students attend local authority pupil referral provision five days a week. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress in English and mathematics. The school enters some students early for GCSE examinations.