Bartley Green School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders at Bartley Green School have high aspirations for every pupil. For the most part, pupils achieve these aspirations. Leaders have developed a broad and ambitious curriculum.

Pupils understand and follow the school values of aspiration, achievement, acceptance, respect, resilience and reward. Warm and respectful relationships characterise life at this school. Pupils are happy and safe.

Pupils value the support staff give them.

There is a purposeful atmosphere around the school. Pupils say they can focus on their learning well.

Most teachers act on any disrupted learning quickly and address the issues effectively. During social times, most pupil...s behave well. A small number of pupils use derogatory and inappropriate language.

If incidents of poor language or behaviour do occur, leaders deal with them swiftly.

The extra-curricular programme is rich and diverse. Pupils regularly take part in a range of clubs, such as sports, music and sailing.

Many pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), attend regularly. Pupils value being able to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme. Opportunities, such as the recent trips to Geneva and London for science, modern foreign languages and art, enhance the curriculum.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Leaders have developed an ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum for all pupils. Senior and curriculum leaders discuss and evaluate the curriculum. This helps them to develop and improve it.

For example, to further develop modern foreign languages, leaders will introduce Spanish into Year 7 and as an option for Year 10 GCSE.

Curriculum leaders identify the key knowledge that pupils need to learn. For example, in English, Year 11 pupils use their knowledge of 'An Inspector Calls' to develop work on stage directions and setting.

This work also broadens pupils' knowledge of the suffragette movement and the historical period of the time. Leaders continue to ensure that all teachers give pupils sufficient opportunities to deepen their knowledge.

Leaders have introduced 'do now activities' at the start of lessons.

These enable teachers to check what pupils know. This information identifies and addresses any gaps in pupils' knowledge quickly. Most teachers check what pupils know and remember well.

However, some teachers do not carry out these checks well enough. This means that any gaps in pupils' knowledge persist, making it harder for them to learn new things.

Leaders quickly identify pupils with SEND and provide effective information about the additional support each pupil needs.

Most teachers use this information to adapt their teaching. However, despite this support, some disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND do not behave well enough. On occasion, some of these pupils move to other classes.

This means that they do not have the same learning experiences as their peers.

Leaders are establishing a range of opportunities for pupils to develop their reading. However, leaders have not prioritised the teaching of phonics for weaker readers.

They are identifying pupils who need extra support and how to provide appropriate help. However, the plans do not currently have clear systems and training for staff. As a result, there is no effective support for weaker readers.

Leaders have a well-planned programme of personal, social, health and economic education. Pupils learn about topics such as healthy relationships, democracy and online safety. This helps pupils to be well prepared for challenges they may face in the wider world.

Pupils have opportunities to discuss careers, university aspirations and apprenticeships. This prepares them well for the next stages of their lives. Pupil leaders support parents' evenings and tours of the school.

They also produce hampers and cards for local charities and care homes.

Leaders responsible for governance have a clear and precise understanding of the school and its priorities. They promote an honest and transparent relationship with leaders.

They also provide effective challenges and support. This helps to ensure the school continues to improve.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Safeguarding leaders are highly experienced and well qualified. They have extensive knowledge of the issues that pupils face within the school and wider community. A safeguarding culture is embedded where all staff report all concerns.

Staff receive extensive training on local or wider issues throughout the year. Weekly meetings enable early support to be put in place, where needed, for pupils and parents. Leaders make appropriate referrals to children's services and follow these up rigorously to make sure pupils get the help they need.

Pupils know who to talk to and how they can report any concerns they have. Pupils are taught about how to keep themselves safe, including online.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Leaders have not yet implemented a rigorous and sequential approach to supporting those pupils who struggle to read.

This means that some pupils do not get the precise help and support they need to catch up with their peers. Leaders should continue with their current plans to implement an effective system to support the weakest readers. ? Some teachers do not use assessment strategies well enough to check what pupils know.

As a result, in some subjects, pupils have gaps in their knowledge. Leaders should ensure that all teachers use assessment strategies consistently to check on what pupils know and can do. ? Some disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND do not behave well enough during lessons.

Too many are moved to other classes. When this happens, this can disrupt the learning of others. Leaders must continue to raise expectations of behaviour throughout the school community to ensure that no learning is disrupted and that all pupils can self-regulate in line with these expectations.