Birchwood Community High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The school's leaders, including governors, have successfully implemented plans to ensure that pupils currently in the school make good progress. For several years, pupils did not reach their full potential at GCSE. However, in 2018 most of those who attended the school for the whole of Years 10 and 11 achieved results broadly in line with similar pupils across the country.

In 2017, a significant number of pupils joined the school very late in Year 10. As a result, in 2018, some were unable to achieve the GCSE results of which they would otherwise have been capable. Students studying applied and technical courses in the sixth form make significantl...y better progress than the national average.

However, those studying for academic qualifications make less progress than they should. To meet the needs and aspirations of students, leaders have reduced the number of A levels offered. These have been chosen to complement applied and technical qualifications, which are a long-standing strength of the school.

The difference between the progress made by disadvantaged pupils and their peers is diminishing too slowly at key stage 4. Almost all teaching in the school is now good. Leaders have used appraisal, monitoring and training opportunities well to remedy the weaknesses in teaching which inspectors identified during the last inspection.

Most pupils attend school regularly. This places the school in line with national averages for attendance. Disadvantaged pupils do not attend school as regularly as their peers.

However, actions taken by leaders have reduced by more than half the rates of absence of those who previously had the worst attendance records in this group. Leaders have made significant changes to the 11–16 curriculum. Pupils now have opportunities to choose from a good range of subjects which match their aspirations and capabilities.

The quality of middle leadership has improved considerably since the last inspection. Strong middle leaders, both pastoral and academic, have played a significant role in improvements in teaching, behaviour and pupils' progress. The behaviour of pupils in lessons and at social times is good.

They respond positively to the well-developed system of rewards and sanctions.

Information about this school

Birchwood Community High School is an average-sized secondary school. The proportion of pupils supported by pupil premium funding is a little lower than average.

The proportion of pupils from ethnic minority groups is lower than the national average. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is lower than average. The proportion of pupils who receive support for SEN and/or disabilities is small in comparison with the national figure.

The proportion of pupils who have an education, health and care plan is a little higher than the national average. For a small number of pupils the school uses alternative provision at New Horizons, Warrington. The school has received support from Formby High School and St Hilda's High School as well as the local-authority hub for subject leaders.