Selston High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Senior leaders have accurately identified the school's strengths and weaknesses.

Their improvement plans are having a positive impact. The trust supports and challenges school leaders effectively. Leaders ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of the pupils, with an increased number of vocational courses available.

Pastoral leadership is strong. Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school site. Exclusions are declining.

Subject leaders have been instrumental in improving the quality of teaching. The quality of teaching is good. Most teachers use strong subject knowledge to plan clear sequences of learning.

Th...eir questioning skills are effective. Pupils achieve well in mathematics and science. Pupils' progress is improving, particularly in Year 10 and key stage 3.

Disadvantaged pupils' progress is improving across most year groups. Pupils know how to keep themselves safe. They treat others with respect.

Their mental health needs are supported well. Pupils have positive attitudes to learning. Leaders are committed to a school that is inclusive.

When necessary, leaders make effective use of alternative providers to meet pupils' individual needs. Overall, pupils' attendance is above the national average. Most teachers make effective use of the school's policy on feedback to help pupils to improve their work.

A small number of teachers do not provide work that is sufficiently challenging to the most able pupils or appropriate support to pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development is promoted well. However, some subject areas do not contribute as effectively to this development as others.

Some teachers do not insist on pupils using spelling, punctuation and grammar accurately. Governors do not always challenge leaders to ensure that additional government funding is used as effectively as possible.

Information about this school

In April 2016, the school was the founding member of the Two Counties Trust.

The headteacher was appointed to the role in September 2017. At the same time, the chief executive officer of the trust took up the substantive position. The senior team has recently been restructured.

Some members of the team have taken on different leadership responsibilities. The school is smaller than the average-sized secondary school. It has a growing number of pupils on its roll.

The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is similar to the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND, including those who have an education, health and care plan, is below average. The majority of pupils are of White British heritage.

Very few pupils speak English as an additional language. The school is registered for sixth-form provision. However, it has not admitted sixth-form students since 2001.

The school works closely with other local secondary schools to support a small group of pupils with their behaviour. The school uses the following alternative providers: Buxton Training Enterprises; East Midlands Vocational Academy; Pollyteach; CAST; and The Spring Learning Centre, within Holgate Academy. Some pupils also use EDLounge, which is an online provider.