Severn Vale School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

Severn Vale School is a good school and is rapidly improving. Students are right to be proud of Severn Vale School and relish all it has to offer, as reflected in their ever- rising attendance levels, which are above average.

Many wrote in their questionnaires that it is 'the best school'. Well-targeted intervention strategies and exemplary care, guidance and support enable students to meet and exceed their targets, including targets in the technology specialist plan. Pride and respect are hallmarks of students' outstanding personal development.

These are reflected in students' great enjoyment of learning, good attendance and punctuality, and their keen involvement in an exceptionally wide ra...nge of activities. By the time students leave, they are confident, well-rounded young people, ready to play their full part in the world beyond school. All groups of students, regardless of gender, ethnicity or ability, make good progress and by the end of Year 11, attainment has risen and is above average.

Results in national examinations have improved greatly over the last three years. GCSE results in 2010 were the school's best ever. They were above average, with 84 per cent of all students gaining five or more good grades.

Over 60 per cent gained 5 or more A* to C grades including English and mathematics. The school has done particularly well to improve attainment in English, which has improved sharply and is now high. The quality of teaching and learning is good overall.

While the school has done much to improve teaching, and all students make good progress, there are inconsistencies in teaching and the quality of marking. Most teachers skilfully use questioning in lessons to promote learning and to analyse and improve students' performance. In a minority of lessons, learning is held back because teachers do not always ensure that students are given sufficient time to work independently, to learn in an active way or to talk about their findings.

Not all staff have sufficiently fine-tuned the use of assessment information so that the tasks they set in lessons provide maximum challenge for the potentially high-flying students. Teachers mark books carefully and regularly but the advice teachers give to students on how to improve their work is variable and not all students are clear about the next steps in their learning. The headteacher is committed to making big improvements.

His strong leadership skills have enabled him to take staff with him. He has, therefore, clearly communicated his ambitions for the school and is ably supported by a strong team of senior and middle leaders. Together, they demonstrate commitment and there is effective teamwork to select and deliver the right strategic plans that will improve outcomes.

Since the last inspection, the school has made good progress in tackling the areas for improvement. Leaders and managers at all levels, including the governing body, know the strengths and areas for improvement very well. Clear lines of accountability, beginning with the governing body and headteacher through to senior and middle leaders and all staff, ensure continuous and rigorous monitoring.

A culture of high expectations underpins the school's work. The school has achieved much in a short time by successfully closing the achievement gap for all groups when results are compared to similar groups nationally. This sustained improvement confirms that the school has good capacity to improve further.

Information about the school

This school is much larger in size than most other secondary schools. The large majority of students are of White British heritage and the proportion of students who speak English as an additional language is much lower than is typically found. The proportion of students known to be eligible for free school meals is below average.

The proportion of students who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, including those with a statement, is below average. Their needs relate mainly to behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. The school has specialist status in technology and it has achieved the Healthy School award.