Hitchin Girls’ School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. The headteacher, governors and staff have very high aspirations for students.

Teachers create a lively and productive learning environment in which students thrive. Students' achievement is very high across subjects and key stages. Students make exceptionally good progress in English and mathematics.

Teaching is consistently good and often outstanding. Students learn quickly and thoroughly as well as gaining high levels of enjoyment from their studies. Students' work is often of a very high standard.

Students are enthusiastic, creative and imaginative as well as thoughtful in their work. They develop their personal and s...ocial skills very well. Students' behaviour is exemplary in lessons and around the school.

They work very well together and are very proud of their school. Students' safety is given high priority. Students know how to keep themselves safe and who to go to for help.

High levels of respect exist between students and staff and the atmosphere is harmonious and happy. The headteacher and senior managers manage the school very efficiently and ensure that teachers improve their practice including by using frequent lesson observations which inform rigorous performance management. Governance is highly effective.

Governors are skilled and experienced. They monitor all aspects of the school's work closely. The sixth form is outstanding because : students' achievement is very high, they are prepared very well for their next steps and many improvements have been made to the provision successfully.

Information about this school

The school is larger than the average-sized secondary school. The large majority of students are of White British heritage and speak English as their first language. The proportion of students supported through school action, school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is below average.

The school makes early GCSE entry in mathematics. The proportion of students who are eligible for the pupil premium is below average. The sixth form is part of a consortium comprising three local schools which collaborate to offer the curriculum.

The school meets government floor standards, which set the minimum expectation for attainment and progress. The school converted to become an academy school in August 2011. When its predecessor school, which had the same name, was last inspected by Ofsted, it was judged to be good.

Also at this postcode