Haverstock School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders have taken well-planned and decisive action to improve all aspects of the school's work. As a result, pupils receive a good education.

Teaching is good and improving. This is because teachers benefit from quality training and leaders hold them to account for their pupils' progress. Teachers use assessment information well to plan activities that meet pupils' needs.

As a result, pupils make good progress. Pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, make strong progress across the key stages and most subjects. Leaders have improved the provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

With effectiv...e teaching and well-targeted extra support, they make equally strong progress as their peers from similar starting points. Leaders have transformed pupils' behaviour. Pupils now have positive attitudes to learning.

Throughout the day, they behave in a calm and sensible manner. Although leaders have worked successfully to increase the attendance of pupils with previously high rates of absenteeism, overall rates of attendance remain below averages. Pupils feel safe.

They learn about risk and how to avoid getting into dangerous situations. The curriculum meets the requirements of the national curriculum. It offers pupils a good range of academic and vocational options at GCSE.

It makes a good contribution to their personal development. Governors provide leaders with a good balance of support and challenge. They closely check on all aspects of the school's work.

They play a key role in securing sustained school improvement. Leadership of the sixth form is improving. Leaders have changed the curriculum to meet students' needs more closely.

Attainment and progress in vocational courses are now good. Progress in academic subjects, although improving, remains below average. Although some post-16 students benefit from high-quality internships, matched closely to their career aspirations, others have no work experience.

Students do not have enough opportunities to develop their personal and social skills in preparation for their future lives as successful and responsible citizens.

Information about this school

Since the previous inspection, there has been a large turnover of staff. The new headteacher joined the school in September 2017.

The school has restructured its senior and middle leadership teams, which has included several new external appointments. A new leadership post for the sixth form was created in September 2018. Almost all the current governors were appointed after the previous inspection.

The current chair and vice-chair took up their posts in the summer of 2017. There is a higher than average proportion of pupils with SEND and a greater proportion of pupils than is typical have an education, health and care plan. A few pupils attend alternative provision at Camden Centre for Learning.