Gladesmore Community School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school.

Under the exceptional and enthusiastic leadership of the headteacher, students and staff grow rapidly as part of the Gladesmore family. Governors and all leaders support students to achieve outstanding levels of success in all aspects of their lives. Results have continued to rise over the past few years and GCSE results now exceed the national average.

Students make outstanding progress in all years. Results in GCSE English, mathematics, modern foreign languages and science have been significantly above average for much of the last three years and are improving. The majority of teaching is outstanding and across the school is at... least consistently good.

Teachers have high expectations, plan effectively and are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Teachers provide high-quality feedback to students both in their marking and through the use of effective questioning. In the best lessons teachers involve students in following up and checking their understanding fully.

Attendance is improving and is well above average. Students are extremely polite, courteous and welcoming. They are very proud of their 'awesome school' and readily celebrate its many exceptional achievements.

There is a strong sense of community where all feel valued and are treated equally with respect. Parents and carers, students and staff are full of praise for the school. Students' behaviour in and around the school is exemplary.

They say they are extremely safe and value the significant levels of individual support they receive both in and out of the classroom. Students are keen to excel. The very positive relationships that have been fostered within the school, combined with the excellent attitudes to learning, enable students to make outstanding progress.

The excellent curriculum meets the needs of all students extremely well. A rich and diverse range of extra-curricular activities helps students excel in areas of need or interest and enhances their learning further. Governors, leaders and managers are never complacent.

They accurately evaluate the school and constantly seeking to improve.

Information about this school

Gladesmore Community School is a larger than average-sized secondary school. There are more boys than girls in the school.

The school has specialism's in mathematics and computing and holds the Queen's Award and the Princess Diana Award for anti-bullying. The proportion of students from minority ethnic groups is well above average. Over half of these young people are from African and Caribbean backgrounds.

The proportion of students who speak English as an additional language is well above average. A little under one third of the students are from White British or other backgrounds. The proportion of students eligible for the pupil premium is well above average.

This is additional government funding for students known to be eligible for free school meals, looked after by the local authority or from service families. Over half of the students are disabled or have special educational needs. The proportion of students supported through school action is well above average.

Similarly the proportion supported by school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is also well above average. Significant numbers of students join the school late. All provision for students on alternative programmes is arranged by the school in conjunction with First Run, Foot Steps, Focus Training, The Sports Academy and The Haringey and Enfield College of North East London.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress in English and mathematics. Gladesmore is a Teaching School, Gifted and Talented Lead School, a Schools Direct Lead School and an Outstanding NACE School supporting able children in education. It commonly shares its best practices with other schools both locally and nationally to support all groups of learners achieve better.