Richard Hale School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils live out the school's vision of 'learning with virtue'. They have thoughtful opportunities to develop their character.

Activities such as team sports and coaching foster pupils' happiness. Additionally, comprehensive pastoral support helps pupils to be safe.

The school's aim for pupils to respect others is realised.

Pupils behave well in and out of lessons. This happens because they build positive relationships with staff. Respecting staff means pupils follow rules and routines.

The school is a happy place to learn and work in.

Pupils reap the rewards of leaders' commitment to enhance the curriculum. This commitment results in lessons... that feature clear explanations from teachers.

Teachers ask helpful questions to check pupils' understanding. Pupils, including sixth-form students, gain good knowledge in their subjects and perform highly in national examinations.

Pupils' experiences extend beyond the academic.

For example, Year 7 pupils go on a residential trip and Year 9 pupils learn vehicle maintenance. There are extensive extra-curricular opportunities. These include chess, football and robotics, to name a few.

Pupils are well prepared for their future. The school provides strong careers advice and support for university and apprenticeship applications. Sixth-form students engage with visiting speakers to aid their decision-making.

Most students progress into higher education.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Since the previous inspection, the school has made significant improvements. The curriculum is ambitious.

Curriculum plans for each year group provide a helpful overview of what pupils should learn. Staff teach essential vocabulary effectively. For instance, in computing, Year 10 pupils use correct technical terms when explaining coding.

In the majority of subjects, teachers use their extensive subject knowledge to provide lively explanations. They use questioning skilfully to check closely on pupils' understanding. Leaders are in the process of reviewing the curriculum in a small number of subjects to make sure it meets their high ambition for pupils.

Sixth-form students, including those new to the school, receive high-quality care and education. They benefit from academic and vocational curriculums that are taught well. Students appreciate staff's expertise and the strong relationships they build with them.

Year 12 students value the diverse work experience opportunities that inspire their career goals.

Most pupils are proficient in reading, writing and mathematics. This helps them to achieve well across the curriculum.

The school uses approaches that it knows work to help pupils who are weaker readers. These help pupils to quickly improve their reading skills so they can read fluently and with understanding. This boosts their confidence and means they can access learning in other subjects.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. Those pupils with an education, health and care plan benefit from having a key worker who advocates for them. 'Pupil passports' outline pupils' short-term targets.

These guide any support and adaptations to teaching that pupils need and are implemented effectively. Well-trained teaching assistants know how to adjust their level of support for pupils. This ensures pupils with SEND understand what to do before working independently.

The school's expectations of pupils' behaviour and attendance are high. The school is successful in its efforts to ensure that attendance is high for many pupils. There is a strong emphasis on building positive, respectful relationships.

Pupils appreciate how staff recognise their successes and efforts to do well. Staff receive effective support and training to manage pupils' behaviour well. This includes arranging extra help for pupils facing mental health and well-being challenges.

The school's personal development curriculum celebrates diversity. Pupils learn about different cultures. Sixth-form students serve as role models and mentors.

They lead sports activities and help younger pupils with reading. The extra-curricular programme includes house competitions and a 'super-curriculum' with research tasks. This provides rich opportunities for project work that complements the curriculum.

Leaders accurately identify what the school does well and what could be even better. Trustees offer valuable support and challenge. This has helped the school go from strength to strength.

Pupils, parents and staff appreciate clear communication about what is happening and why. This ensures that the school's actions have the support and trust of its community. Leaders are mindful of the pressures on staff and have made considered changes to policies and practice to help reduce workload and increase staff's well-being.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a small number of subjects, the curriculum does not always make clear links between new and previous learning. The school should continue the curriculum development in these few remaining subjects to ensure that it is planned and delivered in incremental steps so that pupils can gradually build, and retain, the knowledge they need to succeed.