Fairfield High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Fairfield High School is a welcoming and caring school. Teachers challenge pupils to do, and be, their best at all times. Pupils recognise and value the support they receive from staff and, as a result, they work hard and achieve highly.

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. They attend school regularly and work hard. Pupils enjoy attending the extensive range of clubs on offer.

There is something for every pupil, including academic support, sports clubs, creative clubs, a diversity and equality club and opportunities to meet quietly with others. The school offers and promotes a range of very well-thought-out experiences, trips and visits that help pupils to learn about the...ir locality and region, as well as about global issues. Pupils visit universities and colleges, learn about apprenticeships, and meet with local employers.

Pupils are very well prepared for their next steps.

The school has worked hard to create a culture of success and aspiration and to make sure that every pupil is recognised for what they do well. Pupils celebrate the successes of their peers and seek help for their friends if needed.

This all contributes to a community where everyone is valued and achievement is prized.

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

The school has put in place a well-considered curriculum that identifies exactly what should be taught and when. Because of this precision, pupils build on their prior learning well in lessons.

Pupils are able to make effective links to what they already know and apply their knowledge to new situations confidently and accurately in all subjects. Pupils achieve exceptionally well.

The school's broad curriculum reflects pupils' ambitions and experiences well.

Leaders have made sure that vocational subjects are carefully selected so that pupils who study them have the skills and knowledge to progress to further and higher education. Animal care is a popular subject at key stage 3, and pupils are challenged to think hard about animal welfare and sustainable practices, as well as to learn to care for the farm and small animals on the school site. The wide curriculum offer is a real strength of the school.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) achieve very highly. Pupils' needs are identified quickly, and teachers know which pupils need support and what support to give them. Leaders make sure that the strategies staff use to meet the needs of pupils with SEND are effective, making changes and adaptations as required.

Pupils who find reading difficult are given excellent support. The school identifies any gaps in pupils' phonics knowledge and puts in place a rigorous programme to make sure that pupils catch up with their peers quickly. The school has recently implemented the same approach to improving any gaps in mathematical knowledge that pupils may have when they join the school.

As a result of these actions, all pupils make excellent progress.

Pupils benefit from exceptional pastoral care. All staff know pupils extremely well and step in quickly if pupils need help.

Safeguarding leaders go above and beyond in securing the help that pupils may need. As a result of the school's meticulous care, pupils know that their concerns are listened to. Pupils are taught about the risks they may face.

The school is alert to what pupils may be exposed to in the wider community, and pupils are taught how to recognise and respond to new harms. For example, pupils have recently been learning about derogatory language and behaviour. As a result of this high-quality learning, pupils are respectful of one another and understand and demonstrate important concepts, such as equality and diversity.

School leaders and trustees are relentless in making sure that pupils at Fairfield get the very best education. The new headteacher and chair of trustees have recognised the many strengths of the school and some areas they would like to be even better. They have a sensible timescale for the improvements they have identified.

Trustees take their roles very seriously. They understand the importance of the decisions that they make for pupils at the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.