Old Buckenham High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The school's motto 'Achieving excellence together' accurately describes much of the current provision for students at Old Buckenham High School. The headteacher and the governing body have substantially raised standards in recent years. This is now a school that serves its community well.

School leaders have improved significantly the quality of teaching, learning and assessment. Teachers generally have high expectations of students and plan lessons accordingly. Students receive regular marking and feedback.

Students make better progress than those in other schools from similar starting points. The school has markedly improved its examina...tion results since 2013, and these gains can be seen securely in all current year groups. Students behave and interact with each other very well.

The school ensures the safety, care and well-being of students very effectively, and students understand how to keep themselves safe. The school provides an excellent range of activities and provision which develop students' social, moral, spiritual and cultural experiences well. Students are listened to actively and encouraged to reflect on their learning.

Achievements are widely celebrated and they have a well-developed understanding of the varied aspects of life in modern Britain. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Boys do not achieve as well as girls, particularly in English. In almost all subjects they achieve outcomes below those of the girls.

Assessment is not used as effectively as it could be in some areas of the school. It does not always inform teachers' planning and some of the guidance students are given about how to improve could be clearer. Standards in English are not as high as they are in mathematics and some other key areas.

The attendance of some groups of students remains below that seen nationally.

Information about this school

Old Buckenham High School is a smaller than average 11–16 comprehensive school serving a rural area of Norfolk. Most students are White British.

The proportion of students who come from minority ethnic groups is well below average. The proportion of students for whom English is an additional language is very low. The proportion of disadvantaged students for whom the school receives pupil premium funding (additional government funding to support students who are in the care of the local authority or who are known to be eligible for free school meals) is below average.

The proportion of disabled students and those who have special educational needs or an education, health and care plan is broadly average. The school meets the government's floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress. There are currently no students educated offsite or through alternative provision.