Redruth School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher leads this school with passion and determination. He has gained the respect of pupils, parents and staff because he models good relationships well and leads by example.

Pupils' attainment measured across eight GCSE subjects is above average and has been consistently so for the last three years. Pupils' progress in GCSE mathematics is strong. Many pupils, especially the most able pupils, attain well because they are stretched and challenged by teaching in this subject.

Low-ability pupils make good progress from their starting points. Teaching helps these pupils develop their literacy skills securely and so they learn well i...n a wide range of subjects. However, some pupils are not able to produce extended pieces of written work confidently.

Teaching is well planned. As a result, most pupils gain new knowledge quickly. Teaching helps pupils consolidate their learning effectively and so they are increasingly able to remember ideas in each subject.

Teachers assess pupils' work accurately. As a result, pupils know how they can improve. Nevertheless, some pupils, particularly boys, do not use this information well enough to improve their work.

Pupils are attentive in lessons. Their respectful relationships with teachers make a significant contribution to their learning. Pastoral care is a strength of the school.

Pupils are supported extremely well if they have social, emotional or mental health difficulties. Staff provide effective help to pupils who find it difficult to live up to the school's high expectations of behaviour. Staff help these pupils to modify their behaviour well.

The school provides a programme of teaching about fundamental British values. However, some pupils' understanding of these values is not well developed. Pupils are proud to belong to this school.

Their rate of attendance is consistently above average. However, a small minority of pupils are still persistently absent from school. The curriculum gives pupils a balanced experience across a range of academic and vocational subjects.

Physical education is a strength. Many pupils take part in sports clubs. Senior leaders identify accurately strengths and weaknesses in the quality of teaching.

Even so, the current system they use for analysing pupils' assessment data is not precise enough. Middle leaders have developed their leadership skills well. They ensure that teachers share good ideas systematically and so they have established consistently effective teaching in their teams.

Information about this school

The school is an average-sized secondary school. It is designated as an 11 to 18 school, but it currently has no post-16 students on roll. The great majority of pupils are of White British heritage.

The proportion of pupils with SEND is above average. The proportion of pupils who are eligible for free school meals is around the national average. An unusually high number of pupils left the school roll in Years 10 and 11 in 2017.

A small number of pupils attend off-site alternative provision at Nine Maidens Alternative Provision Academy and Carrick Alternative Provision Academy. The school works with the organisation Trauma Informed Schools UK to provide training about mental health awareness for staff in local schools and organisations. The headteacher provides coaching in leadership skills for other headteachers in the area.