Belmont Community School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Strong leaders, managers and governors have successfully improved the school's effectiveness since the last inspection.

The headteacher and his senior leadership team evaluate accurately the school's strengths and areas for improvement. The enthusiasm and commitment of the headteacher and deputy headteachers are unrelenting. Expectations are high, and the school continues to improve.

Governors are knowledgeable and, since the last inspection, have taken prompt action to improve their skills. They carry out their duties successfully and have an accurate understanding of the school's strengths and areas for improvement. Teaching is good..../>
Leaders have successfully addressed previous weaknesses in teaching. As a result, most pupils in school are now making good progress from their starting points across a range of subjects. Standards of attainment are rising for most pupils across the school in most subject areas.

Where attainment falls below national averages, progress of pupils from starting points is nevertheless strong. Leaders have taken successful action to improve the progress made by disadvantaged pupils. As a result, the gap in progress made between this group of pupils and other pupils nationally is diminishing quickly.

Relationships between pupils and staff are very positive. There is a strong culture of support in the school. Pupils enjoy helping each other in class and during tutor periods.

Strong support is in place for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and this is helping them to make good progress. Pupils' personal development, behaviour and welfare are good. Leaders have improved pupils' behaviour since the last inspection.

Pupils generally conduct themselves very well in lessons and around the school. They are confident, polite and courteous to one another and to staff. Pupils behave well and show positive attitudes to learning.

Attendance is above the national average. Fixed-term exclusions are consistently below the national average. At times, teachers do not provide effective challenge for the less able and the most able pupils.

Consequently, in some lessons these pupils do not make as much progress as they could. Although the attainment of pupils in history, geography and modern foreign languages is improving, their attainment remains below the national average in these subjects. The Year 7 literacy and numeracy catch-up premium funding is used effectively to improve pupils' literacy.

However, it is not yet used effectively to improve pupils' numeracy.

Information about this school

Belmont Community School is smaller than the average-sized secondary school. The majority of pupils are White British.

The school hosts a local authority-run specialist provision catering for pupils with visual or hearing impairment. All pupils fully access mainstream lessons across the full curriculum. The proportion of pupils with SEND is below the national average.

The proportion of pupils who have an education, health and care plan is broadly in line with the national average. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is above the national average. The school currently uses Delta Independent School, Beacon of Light (Sunderland Football Club), Engage, and the Bridge as alternative provision for a very small number of pupils.