Garth Hill College

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school After the last inspection, the principal acted quickly in making much-needed changes.

Leaders have worked with determination to hold staff to account more effectively and to improve standards. Historically, pupils make average rates of progress across a range of subjects. Current pupils make increasingly strong progress because teaching, learning and assessment have improved.

Teaching, learning and assessment have improved since the last inspection. Most teachers have strong subject knowledge and they plan challenging activities that engage pupils. In a declining proportion of lessons where learning is less strong, leaders are taking firm... action.

Many teachers use the school assessment policy to ensure that pupils know how to improve their work. However, this is not consistently applied across departments. In lessons, pupils behave well.

They have positive relationships with staff. This means that lessons are calm and orderly. Pupils are proud of their school.

They wear their uniform smartly and are welcoming to visitors. Students in the sixth form make good progress because of the strong teaching that they receive. Leadership is good in the sixth form and students are looked after well.

After a period of review, the curriculum is varied and balanced. Leaders have ensured that pupils have a range of choices of subjects to study in key stages 4 and 5. Disadvantaged pupils make strong progress in some subjects.

However, they do not do as well as they could in other subjects, such as English and science. Safeguarding is effective. Pupils and students feel safe and are well cared for.

Information about this school

The principal joined the school in September 2007. The school is larger than the average-sized secondary school. The large majority of pupils are of White British background.

The proportion of pupils who are disadvantaged is below the national average for secondary schools. The proportion of pupils with SEND is above the national average for secondary schools. Off-site provision at College Hall, Wokingham is used by the school for a small proportion of pupils.

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