Arrow Vale High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school Outcomes are improving very rapidly from a dip in 2017 as a result of the effective work by leaders at all levels, governors and trustees.

Leaders have taken prompt and effective action to address previous weaknesses in teaching and outcomes in some subjects. The challenge and support provided by the trustees and governors for leaders and teaching staff are highly effective in bringing about improvements. Outcomes in mathematics and science are exceptionally high because of the very high quality of leadership and teaching in these subjects and effective partnerships with the feeder middle schools.

Assessment of pupils' work is acc...urate and rigorous. Leadership and the quality of teaching in the sixth form are excellent, with all students making sustained progress. Pupils and students are very well prepared for the next stage in their learning, which is reflected in the high proportion going to on to further education, training or employment.

The curriculum is very well suited to the needs, choices and aspirations of pupils. There is a very strong emphasis on the arts. Pupils' personal development, welfare and behaviour are outstanding.

Pupils conduct themselves in an exemplary fashion in school. Teachers develop employability skills in lessons highly effectively, and encourage teamwork and oral and written presentational skills very well. Parents, carers and pupils regard the school very highly and few have any well-founded concerns.

Outcomes are improving for the most able pupils, disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). While pupils do well in English, geography and history, their outcomes are not yet as high compared to other subjects. Uptake of modern foreign languages at GCSE and in the sixth form is low compared to the national average.

Information about this school

Arrow Vale is smaller than the average-sized secondary school. It admits pupils from Year 9 upwards. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is above the national average.

The proportion of pupils with SEND is above the national average. The proportion of pupils with an education, health and care plan is broadly in line with the national average. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic groups is well below the national average, as is the proportion who speak English as an additional language.

The school is sponsored by the Central RSA Academies Trust, having converted to become an academy in September 2012. The principal was appointed in May 2017. Seven pupils attend off-site alternative provision.