Farnham Heath End

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This is a school that has improved rapidly under its new leadership. Pupils, staff and parents and carers all told us that it has become a happier place to attend.

Staff love working here and enjoy researching new ways of improving teaching.

Senior leaders have very high standards and expectations and pupils have learned to work harder and be more resilient.

The school has got better at helping pupils to behave well.

There are strong new behaviour policies that pupils think are fair. Most staff use these successfully, but some misbehaviour is occasionally repeated. The pupils see that rules have improved and told us, for example, that not allowing mo...bile phone use in school has made the school a better place to learn.

Pupils feel that they are safe to be themselves at the school and to voice their own opinions. Bullying is rare and generally dealt with well when pupils report it.

There are many more activities being organised outside lessons and we saw enthusiastic pupils who were taking part in clubs and sports or reading in the new library.

Pupils told us that they value these activities, but some still say that they do not take part.

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

Senior leaders know that achievement in some subjects has not been strong enough in the past. By using research and offering training to teachers, leaders have raised standards and improved the breadth of the curriculum.

As a result, pupils now choose a broader range of challenging subjects and succeed in them.

There is strong planning across the curriculum. Leaders have helped teachers to improve their plans where necessary.

Across the curriculum, teachers structure learning well, enabling pupils to remember and understand what they learn. Teachers use assessment well so that they know how pupils are doing and can adjust the content of their teaching accordingly.

In most of their learning, pupils are attentive, enthusiastic and resilient.

Very occasionally, less good behaviour means that pupils stop concentrating so well. Leaders are aware of this and have policies in place to reach consistency.The team that supports pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is very effective.

It supports pupils with SEND to develop self-confidence and resilience and works with teachers to plan learning activities that suit the whole range of pupils. This is generally effective, enabling pupils with SEND to achieve well. However, a small minority of teachers require further support to ensure that sequences of learning better meet the needs of these pupils.

The school offers a wide range of activities that encourage pupils' personal development very well. The promotion of equality and diversity is a particular strength. Examples of this include, the LGBTQ club and whole-school assemblies about sexual orientation and rights.

The school actively encourages pupils to engage with the wider community. For example, pupils help primary school pupils with reading and read to older people.

The school has many well-planned activities to prepare pupils for the next stages of their education.

All pupils do work experience and the school organises extensive chances for pupils to meet employers. The school meets its requirements to make sure that pupils gain access to high-quality, impartial careers advice and guidance. However, more needs to be done now to make clear to pupils how their achievement overall and in individual subjects might link to particular careers.

The school leaders have made many changes in the last two years. They have done this with enthusiasm and optimism, gaining the trust of staff even when they have had to make difficult decisions. They challenge teachers to do the best for the school, but look after their workload at the same time.

One teacher told us, 'This is an amazing school and everyone needs to buy into it now.'

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

All staff know that they are responsible for keeping pupils safe and they take this seriously.

Effective training ensures that staff quickly recognise and report anything that concerns them. Safeguarding leaders swiftly respond by taking appropriate actions and get further help if needed. Detailed records show that they do this with determination if outside agencies are not helpful immediately.

Pupils learn how to keep themselves safe and know whom to talk to should they have any concerns. Similarly, effective systems ensure that pupils attending alternative provision are kept safe.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

Pupils are not always clear enough about how their achievement overall and in particular subjects might suit them for particular next steps in their education and career choices.

This means that they are not able to make fully informed decisions. More should be done to improve the way assessment information is used with pupils to guide them in this area. .

Across most subjects, behaviour is usually well managed and supports strong delivery of the curriculum. There is a small minority of occasions when this policy is not followed as consistently. Leaders should continue to ensure that the behaviour policies are followed consistently by all departments in all years.