Great Sankey High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The new executive headteacher and head of school provide vision and direction. They have brought much-needed unity, stability and purpose to the school community. Senior leaders and governors are committed to ensuring that pupils receive a first-rate education.

Leaders create a respectful, purposeful community which celebrates diversity. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is strong. Personal development and welfare is a strength of the school.

Pastoral leadership and the leadership of the pupil premium funding are highly effective in supporting disadvantaged pupils and pupils who are looked after in overcoming succe...ssfully any barriers they face. Leaders have ensured that the school has a broad and balanced curriculum. As a result, attainment is rising for all pupils, including for disadvantaged pupils and boys.

Behaviour around the school is calm and orderly. Relationships between pupils and staff are positive. Pupils are smart and come to school ready to learn.

Safeguarding is effective. Pupils say that they feel safe and are well looked after. They say that bullying is very rare and that staff deal with it effectively.

The provision in the sixth form is good. Students enjoy being members of Barrow Hall College. They appreciate the support offered by staff.

High-quality careers information, advice and guidance mean that pupils are well prepared for their next steps in education, training or employment. Attendance is high overall for pupils. Pupils enjoy coming to school.

However, the attendance of pupils who are entitled to free school meals remains a focus for leaders. The rates of persistent absence of disadvantaged pupils are still too high. Most teaching is good.

However, the teaching of lower-attaining pupils and pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is more variable. The majority of teachers have high expectations of pupils but some do not implement the school's policy of correcting spelling, punctuation and grammar. Leaders undertake effective actions to improve the school.

However, some actions are not thoroughly analysed for their impact on pupils.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. The school complies with Department for Education guidance on what academies should publish.

The school is larger than the average secondary school for pupils from 11 to 18 years. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is lower than average. A number of pupils are supported through the Year 7 catch-up premium.

The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is lower than average, as is the proportion who speak English as an additional language. The vast majority of students are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is below the national average but the proportion who have a statement of special education needs and/or an education, health and care plan is above average.

The school's sixth-form provision is Barrow Hall College, which operates on site in a modern, purpose-built building. The school currently does not use alternative provision for any pupils. Since the last inspection, the school has appointed a new executive headteacher from January 2016.