Hoe Valley School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school The school is exceptionally well led.

Leaders successfully ensure that the highly aspirational principles upon which the school was founded are put into practice. Leaders leave nothing to chance. All aspects of the school are thoroughly checked and reviewed.

Leaders are fearless in their approach to giving, and receiving, robust feedback about the school's work. Staff and pupils are very well nurtured by leaders. Staff are dedicated to delivering high-quality experiences for pupils day in and day out.

The carefully considered, bespoke curriculum is very effectively implemented and supports pupils in acquiring both breadth... and depth in their learning. Practice in teaching is consistently effective and some is exceptional. Many pupils are inspired to learn by teachers' strong subject knowledge.

Assessment approaches are excellent. They build a detailed and accurate picture of where any gaps are in pupils' learning as well as their progression through the curriculum. Pupils make consistently strong progress and for some progress is very rapid.

The majority are on track to meet their highly challenging targets. Disadvantaged pupils and pupils who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities are particularly well served by strong teaching and the aspirational culture. Leaders systematically remove barriers that prevent them achieving.

Leaders keep pupils safe and make sure that pupils have the support they need to improve their self-esteem and well-being. Attendance is improving due to very effective approaches that have led to an impressive reduction in the rates of persistent absence. Personal development and well-being are good.

Most pupils work very hard and show high levels of commitment to learning. Leaders work unstintingly to support and encourage the minority who are less committed to their studies. Behaviour is good but not outstanding.

The majority of pupils follow the school's behaviour code and are respectful to staff, and to other pupils. However, a minority do not follow the rules. The school is working effectively with this group and their behaviour is improving.

A number of parents and carers are critical of the school. In some cases, this is because they are not aware of the positive impact that the school's approaches are having on pupils' learning, behaviour and attendance.

Information about this school

The school opened in September 2015 and currently caters for pupils in Years 7–9.

It was founded by a group of parents, two of whom are now members of the school's governing body. The school is temporarily housed in Portakabins in the car park of Woking Leisure Centre. It will move to newly built, bespoke premises in September 2018.

The school works very closely with a number of others schools in Woking, especially those in the Arete partnership of schools. The headteacher is chair of the local authority Fair Access Panel. The school is now almost full in Year 9 and has a waiting list for other year groups.

Four pupils are educated off-site for some of the week. The rest of the time they are educated at the school. Two are educated at North West Surrey Short Stay School and two at Skillway.

The school has an above-average proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities. The proportion of pupils eligible for additional pupil premium funding is slightly above average and a higher than average proportion of pupils are from minority ethnic groups. The current headteacher has worked part time since January, sharing her role with the associate headteacher.