Seaford Head School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school Senior and middle leaders, teachers and support staff all work cohesively under the headteacher's successful leadership.

Pupils flourish on all three sites. The headteacher has raised the importance of staff's and pupils' well-being so that they continue to be successful and enjoy school life. Astute governors are fully involved in the school's activities and development.

They celebrate the school's successes but are determined to see yet more improvements in the future. GCSE examination results have risen for the last three years, especially for disadvantaged pupils and the most able. The proportion of pupils who achieve grades A...* to C at GCSE is higher than the national average.

Support for vulnerable pupils, disadvantaged pupils, those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities and children looked after is planned very carefully. Guidance is sensitive and thoughtful so these pupils' learning and pastoral needs are met most successfully. The majority of parents support the school enthusiastically.

A small number rarely attend events or parents' evenings and are less well involved in supporting their children's education. Teachers' specialist subject knowledge, their enthusiasm for teaching and commitment to pupils' learning are evident in all classes. They use accurate assessment of pupils' progress to help them to improve their work.

The great majority of pupils behave extremely well in lessons and around the school. Excellent alternative programmes are in place for those who struggle with academic work or find mainstream school life difficult. The sixth form is gathering momentum in its fourth year, with an increasing number of students and improving results generated by strong leadership and teaching.

A-level achievement varies between subjects, so results are not as securely outstanding as in the main school. Students mature into thoughtful young adults. A team of dedicated staff, highly rated by the local authority, makes sure that all safeguarding arrangements are in place.

Pupils feel very safe at school. English teachers, supported by all other staff, improve pupils' vocabulary, reading and writing fluency very well in all years. There is not such a determined push to reinforce pupils' numeracy skills across the curriculum.

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Information about this school

This larger than average-sized school converted to academy status in September 2012. The sixth form opened in September 2014. The headteacher was appointed in April 2016.

The school is on three sites. Arundel, the main one, is the base for Years 9 to 11; Steyne, half a mile away, is where Years 7 and 8 have all their lessons; and the sixth form has a base in a building across the road from Steyne. Pupils in Years 9 to 11 have physical education, music and some science lessons at the Steyne site.

The proportion of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is below average overall but a higher than national proportion of pupils have a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan. A small group of these pupils follow a life skills course blended with mainstream lessons. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is below the percentage seen nationally.

However, it varies between year groups with, for example, over 30% in the present Year 9 and under 20% in Year 10. In most years, around 40 Year 7 pupils are eligible for catch-up funding (for those who did not attain level 4 in English or mathematics at the end of primary school). More than nine out of 10 pupils are of a White British background.

A well-below-average proportion of pupils speak English as an additional language. The school's inclusion room is for specialists to teach a small number of pupils who need support to flourish in mainstream classes. They also support a few pupils at risk of permanent exclusion.

Fewer than 10 pupils, most of whom are in Year 11, attend off-site alternative provision at Plumpton College one day a week. They follow animal care and related agricultural courses. The school also sends pupils to South Downs College for courses such as hair and beauty.

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. The school complies with Department for Education guidance on what academies should publish. In 2016, the school met the government's floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

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