Haggerston School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders provide an ambitious curriculum and have high expectations for all pupils in the school, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils are encouraged to build aspiration, creativity and character.

Pupils are safe and happy here.

Pupils feel confident speaking to staff if they require help and guidance. If pupils require extra support in their education or personal development, leaders ensure that this is provided.

Leaders have re-established routines and high expectations for pupils' behaviour following the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pupils typically behave well. Teachers combine discipline... with professional warmth and ensure that poor behaviour is not tolerated. Lessons are calm and purposeful.

Bullying is rare within the school and is addressed swiftly and effectively by leaders.

Many pupils, including sixth-form students, take part in weekly timetabled enrichment sessions. Most pupils in Year 9 complete the Duke of Edinburgh's Bronze Award.

Pupils take part in a range of performance opportunities, including through creative arts. Staff encourage pupils to take on leadership responsibilities. These include becoming school ambassadors, members of the students' union and organising charity events.

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

Leaders ensure that the curriculum is broad and well developed. They identify key content that pupils need to learn and when. For example, in history, pupils learn increasingly complex concepts about imperialism.

Teachers have strong subject knowledge and are supported by an effective professional development programme. This enables them to routinely develop pupils' knowledge and understanding in different subjects. In some lessons, teachers do not check and clarify pupils' misunderstanding precisely enough.

Teachers support pupils to develop their understanding of subject-specific vocabulary. However, this is not embedded in all lessons. For example, pupils' understanding of mathematical vocabulary and concepts is sometimes not sufficiently developed.

Leaders place high importance on the value of reading. Staff ensure that pupils have regular practice sessions to build reading confidence. Students in the sixth form take part in a wider reading programme.

This encourages them to engage with scholarly articles that relate to their subjects. A minority of pupils are removed from some design and technology and Spanish lessons to receive extra literacy and mathematics support. This helps pupils to close gaps in learning within these subjects but, as a result, they are less secure in design and technology and Spanish.

The provision for pupils with SEND is strong. Teachers are given the tools and training to support these pupils in the classroom. This enables all pupils to access the curriculum effectively.

Staff ensure that pupils feel safe across the school. In class, pupils' behaviour is positive. Low-level disruption is rare and does not get in the way of pupils' learning of the curriculum.

Leaders identify and provide effective support and guidance for pupils to manage their behaviour when necessary.

Leaders provide many opportunities for pupils' wider development, including through 'character days'. The school's personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education curriculum encourages pupils to keep healthy.

Leaders offer targeted support to build pupils' deeper understanding of the wider world. For instance, pupils are taught about managing personal finances.

The 'Haggerston Journey' supports all pupils' access to wider opportunities.

Students enjoy a wide range of enrichment programmes, such as dance, debating and 'Model UN', which helps to deepen their understanding of international relations and diplomacy.

Leaders provide pupils with high-quality careers advice and guidance. All pupils in Years 9, 11 and 12 receive individual independent careers consultations.

Pupils in all year groups have access to external speakers from a range of educational institutions and workplaces. Students in the sixth form receive comprehensive advice and guidance on applications to university and other post-18 pathways.

Leaders consider staff's workload and take account of their well-being seriously.

Staff feel well supported and have access to a wide range of professional development opportunities. The governing body knows the strengths and priorities of the school and carries out its role effectively. The governing body has a clear strategic vision and provides appropriate challenge and support to leaders.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders ensure that clear safeguarding procedures are in place. They have established a strong culture of safeguarding, which is considered to be everyone's responsibility.

Staff training takes place regularly. They understand how to identify and report any concerns that they may have.

Leaders work closely with external agencies and understand how to support pupils' needs.

They understand the local risks and are reactive to challenges as they arise. Staff encourage pupils to stay safe, including through assemblies. Pupils are taught about healthy relationships, including about consent and keeping safe online.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• On occasion, teaching does not identify and clarify pupils' misunderstandings well or ensure that pupils are secure in subject-specific vocabulary. This means that sometimes pupils are not ready to learn new content and concepts. Leaders should develop the expertise of all teachers so that they address any gaps in pupils' understanding.

• Some pupils in the school are withdrawn from design and technology or Spanish to receive extra mathematics and literacy lessons. Although these support pupils to plug gaps in their learning, pupils' understanding in these subjects is less secure. Leaders should ensure that pupils who are withdrawn from some lessons for additional support have opportunities to build secure knowledge in the subjects they have missed.

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