Biddulph High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

An ethos of service and responsibility among students has created a school community that is both caring and harmonious. Overall standards at Key Stage 4 have been consistently above the national average for the last three years. Standards and progress in English at Key Stage 4 are particularly high.

The sixth form is good because students are making good progress given their starting points. Sixth form students make particularly good progress on practical and vocational courses. Students' behaviour is exemplary and they have an excellent understanding of how to stay safe.

In lessons teachers make good use of physically active w...ork in groups and pairs to engage students and to encourage them to work independently. In lessons students show excellent attitudes to their learning and there is exceptional support and care for vulnerable students and for those with behavioural difficulties. Over the last three years gaps in the standard reached by the most disadvantaged students and others have been closing.

The actions of a team of experienced and effective senior leaders have had a very positive impact on the quality of teaching in this improving school. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teaching is good rather than outstanding because not all lessons, including those in the sixth form, provide a variety of different activities and tasks, particularly those designed to challenge the most able. Not all the courses that students follow in the sixth form are always best suited to their needs The school does not have a fully developed and consistent marking policy.

Information about this school

Biddulph High School Academy converted to become an academy on Thursday 1 September 2011. When its predecessor school, Biddulph High School, was last inspected by Ofsted, it was judged to be outstanding overall. The school is smaller than the average secondary school.

Since September 2012 the school has had an interim principal. A new principal has been appointed to start in September 2013. The vast majority of students come from White British backgrounds and the proportion of students identified as speaking English as an additional language is well below the national average.

The percentage of students who are eligible for pupil premium (which provides additional funding for students in local authority care, those known to be eligible for free school meals and students with families in the armed services) is below average. The proportion of students registered as disabled or with a statement of special educational needs or being supported at 'school action plus' is average, while the number of students supported at 'school action' is below average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress.