Nishkam High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Respect for everyone in the school community guides the work of this free school, which has students in Years 7 and 8 and the sixth form.

Students achieve exceptionally well. Nearly all of the teaching is consistently good or outstanding. The effectiveness of the sixth form is outstanding and students have courses tailored to their needs which enable them to develop their talents.

Behaviour is exceptional. Students show respect for everyone they meet, irrespective of beliefs or culture, in this multi-faith school community which is built on Sikh values. Students know how to keep themselves safe and have a deep understanding of ri...ght and wrong.

Students' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is promoted outstandingly well. Students and teachers worship and dine together as a 'family'. School leaders, including governors and trustees, are an inspiration to all and consistently model the school motto, 'Be humble to be wise'.

Outstanding leadership is already having an impact on raising achievement through rigorous checks of students' progress and teaching. The school provides a rich education for students that include library lessons and opportunities for them to engage in public speaking, as well as providing an extended school day.

Information about this school

Nishkam High School opened as a free school in September 2012.

The school forms part of the multi-academy trust of schools known as the Nishkam School Trust. Nishkam High School is a Sikh ethos multi-faith school. The school is much smaller than the average-sized secondary school and currently has students in Years 7 and 8 and a small sixth form.

In time the school will grow to the full secondary age range. The school has its own headteacher, in addition to the executive principal who works across other schools in the trust. There are no unqualified teachers in the school and all teachers are specialists in the subjects they teach.

Nishkam High School moved into its new building the day before the start of the inspection, moving out of a newly built temporary school building on the same site. The temporary building is quite remarkable in that it was built over a period of 60 days by volunteers from the local community which included teachers, parents and sixth form students. The school receives support from teachers at King Edward VI High School for Girls, Birmingham, such as for the teaching of master classes and preparing sixth form students for university entrance exams.

The school does not make use of any alternative or off-site provision, apart from where sixth form students have requested a work experience placement. Almost all of the school population are from minority ethnic backgrounds, which is well above average. The largest ethnic group is Indian which makes up almost 90% of the school population.

About 40% of students in the school speak English as an additional language, which is above average. Almost a third of the students in the school are supported by pupil premium funding, which in this school provides additional government funding for students known to be eligible for free school meals. There is a smaller than average proportion of disabled students and those who have special educational needs supported through school action and a very small proportion who are supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs.