John Mason School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher and governors are ambitious for the future of the school. Parents and carers, staff and pupils told us how the school has improved in recent years. The reputation of the school has been transformed within the community.

Leaders accurately evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the school and have a clear plan to bring about improvements where needed. Leaders have created an ethos where the relationships between staff and pupils are extremely caring and respectful. Pupils feel very safe and confident that there is an adult they can talk to if they have any concerns.

Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school. Pup...ils' behaviour is mature and they enjoy working with their peers. In the majority of lessons, pupils remain focused and low-level disruption is rare.

Teachers have strong subject knowledge and most plan lessons that engage pupils and extend their learning. Pupils use teachers' guidance well to help them improve the standard of their work. Pupils' progress has improved so that it is now similar to the national average overall.

Pupils' GCSE results last year were below expectations in some subjects. As a result, the curriculum was revised to better meet pupils' needs. Leaders' actions to improve attendance have quickly led to pupils, especially those who are vulnerable, attending school more regularly.

Leaders and governors spend the additional funding for disadvantaged pupils appropriately, and the differences in outcomes for these pupils are diminishing in many areas. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), especially those with social and emotional difficulties, are expertly supported. In some lessons, teachers do not plan skilfully enough to help pupils overcome their learning difficulties.

Students' examination results at the end of the sixth form were well above the national average last year and the current group are on track to greater success. Sixth-form students are a credit to the school. They all engage with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme.

In 2018, an extraordinarily large number of students achieved the gold award. Leaders have encouraged students in the sixth form to be aspirational and ambitious. As a result, the proportion of students moving on to higher education is increasing.

Pupils are fully prepared for their next steps. They value the thorough, impartial and timely careers information and guidance provided.

Information about this school

The school joined with another local secondary school and a primary school in 2018 to form a multi-academy trust, the Abingdon Learning Trust.

Governance is provided by the board of trustees, which delegates some of its responsibilities to the local board. Sixth-form provision contributes to a consortium, the Abingdon Consortium for Education. A very small number of pupils attend one of three alternative providers – Orchard Pupil Referral Unit, Abingdon College of Further Education and TRAX – for all or part of the week.