Netherhall School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school This school has been transformed in a remarkably short period of time.

A new team of effective senior leaders and a reinvigorated governing body have played major roles in lifting a school that was failing. Staff and pupils say, without question, the headteacher has been an inspiration, giving them a belief that all can achieve. Throughout his tenure, the headteacher has demonstrated passion, integrity and highly skilled leadership.

Older pupils proudly describe the remarkable improvements to the school. They are grateful to the headteacher and for the hard work of the staff for making this a good school. Pupils recognise that their futur...e prospects have been improved considerably by the much better education they are now receiving.

Outcomes improved for pupils leaving the school in 2017, although achievement was still below that seen nationally. The progress of pupils currently in the school is very strong across all subjects and across all ranges of ability. The quality of teaching and learning is improving rapidly.

Strategies to improve pupils' ability to read well are having a very positive effect. This is building pupils' confidence and ability to improve their progress across all of their subjects. Attendance has improved rapidly.

There is a wide range of rewards for good attendance and staff go beyond what could normally be expected of them to get pupils to attend well. However, the strongest incentive for pupils to attend Netherhall School is the better quality of education they are now receiving. Not surprisingly, the vast majority of pupils are eager to take advantage of these new opportunities and a better curriculum.

They behave very well. Management systems work well for the few pupils who struggle to behave. The sixth form has improved from a point where it may not have remained open, due to a lack of students, to a thriving aspect at the heart of the school.

Here too, the quality of teaching has improved considerably. In addition, provision to enhance pupils' leadership qualities and personal development has developed from virtually nothing to an integral part of their education. Leaders are quite modest when reflecting on their achievements and know what they need to do to improve further.

The progress boys make is generally good, but it is not as strong as girls', particularly in English. While most pupils who were struggling have been helped by very good support, not all have. Leaders are confident that almost all pupils receive teaching that is at least consistently good.

Information about this school

The headteacher started as acting headteacher in January 2016. This was four months before the last inspection. He became the substantive headteacher in September 2016.

Since then, there have been considerable changes to both the structure and the personnel of the senior leadership team; three of the previous senior leadership team left and were replaced by a new deputy headteacher. Roles and responsibilities have been restructured. Since the last inspection, the school has been seeking to join an academy trust.

Negotiations were well under way when the trust withdrew from the process. Due to the protracted processes surrounding the conversion of this school to an academy, the school has received very limited external support. Netherhall School is the only secondary school in the town of Maryport in West Cumbria.

At the time of the inspection, one pupil had attended one week at the West Cumbria Learning Centre, the local pupil referral unit. The school did not meet the government floor standards set in 2016. The DfE has not yet set the standards for 2017.