Chorlton High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

Since the school's previous inspection significant improvements have taken place. Outstanding leadership from the headteacher and the senior team has enabled a transformation in teaching and learning, in curriculum opportunities and in the quality of care, guidance and support available to students.

Despite its large size, this is a learning environment where students feel very much a part of the community and often show admirable care and consideration for each other. A relentless drive from the staff to ensure achievement for all provides outstanding equality of opportunity. Relationships between staff and students and across religious and ethnic differences are harmonious and supportive.

T...his is a genuinely cohesive community. Leaders and managers have ensured that the school's specialisms, as a training school and in the performing arts, have worked together to drive up standards of teaching and learning. The school's work with other organisations to promote the health and well-being of students, to enrich the curriculum and to support the arts is exemplary.

A focus on teaching quality has increased the proportion of good and outstanding teaching, although in some lessons students do not have sufficient opportunities to develop the independent learning skills that would help them to pursue their studies in greater depth. The school has developed an innovative and flexible curriculum that enables most students to achieve well. Not all students, however, have the opportunity to obtain a qualification in information and communication technology.

There is rigorous monitoring of progress and a rapid response to identify and intervene when students fall behind. This raises aspirations and drives up attainment. Students leaving Year 11 in 2011 gained GCSE results around the national average, despite many of these students starting secondary school with attainment below average.

In the words of a Year 8 student when asked about her impressions of the new school year, `It's challenging, but that's good because it helps you achieve your targets.' The behaviour of students in lessons is exceptionally good; teachers ensure that students have appropriate activities and that learning proceeds at a good pace. Outside lessons, however, the movement of students around the school and their behaviour at break and lunchtime is less well managed by the school.

Students, on the whole, feel safe in school and report very few incidents of bullying or other serious misbehaviour. They are very confident that the school can deal effectively with any concerns or problems they might experience. The school has a very accurate picture of its own strengths and weaknesses and has some exceptional practice in the evaluation of the impact of its improvement work.

As a result of this and the overall improvements, the school demonstrates outstanding capacity for further improvement.

Information about the school

Chorlton High School is a larger than average mixed comprehensive school. It is a specialist performing arts college and training school with many more boys than girls.

The school is situated in a relatively affluent part of Manchester, although students are drawn from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds from around the city. The proportion of students known to be eligible for free school meals is well above the national average. Just over half the students have minority ethnic heritage, a significant proportion of whom speak English as an additional language.

The proportion of students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, including those with a statement of special educational needs, is slightly above the national average. The number of students who join or leave during the year is slightly below the national average. The school has gained a number of awards including Artsmark Gold and the International Schools Award.

Inspection grades: 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory and 4 is inadequate Please turn to the glossary for a description of the grades and inspection terms