Shelley College, A Share Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Ambition and aspiration are at the heart of everything that Shelley College does. Pupils thrive in calm, focused lessons where teachers have the highest expectations of them.

Pupils meet these expectations and achieve highly. Behaviour in lessons, and around school, is exceptional. Pupils are taught to be articulate.

They express themselves maturely when discussing, for example, the positive relationships they enjoy with teachers.

The 'Shelley College Scholars' programme provides structure and focus to the school's wide array of extra-curricular activities. The school ensures that activities match the interests of its pupils.

For example, recent addi...tional clubs in boxing and dance have been welcomed by pupils. The school creates opportunities for pupils to work productively together. The 'reading friends' programme, for example, allows sixth-form students to mentor and support their younger peers.

The benefits to pupil relationships shine in activities such as this.

All pupils are valued and respected in this school. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are expertly supported in lessons.

Teachers act on relevant information to help them understand pupils' needs. The school takes highly effective action to identify and meet the needs of pupils. A rare sense of unity and togetherness pervades the school.

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

With the support of the trust, the school has developed clear principles to identify the 'golden knowledge' that pupils need in each subject. As a result, across all curriculum subjects, teachers have a clear understanding of exactly what pupils need to learn. Teachers identify swiftly any knowledge that pupils fail to learn.

For example, in science, teachers plan 're-teach' lessons to address pupils' misconceptions and gaps in learning. Teachers make effective checks to ensure that pupils with SEND access lessons alongside their peers.

The consistently high-quality delivery of the curriculum is remarkable.

The 'retrieve to remember' approach happens across every subject during the day. This means that pupils recall their learning in detail. For example, when discussing English, pupils spoke eloquently about the links between the context, theme and plot of the novel 'Animal Farm'.

In A-level mathematics classes, the school's 'time for improvement' and 'have you still got it?' tasks help pupils to embed the crucial knowledge they need for later success. Pupils throughout the school develop impressive subject knowledge. They are exceptionally well prepared for further and higher education and employment.

Reading has a high priority. The school focuses on ensuring that pupils have the reading skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. Texts chosen for pupils to read in tutor time are carefully selected to represent the diversity of the modern world.

Pupils who need help with their reading are identified quickly. They receive expert help from adults so that they develop skills and confidence. This continues with group reading programmes as pupils become more fluent.

Pupils' attitudes across the school are highly positive. The school has clear and very effective plans to support pupils' behaviour. For example, pupils who access 'The Bridge' provision attend school with greater regularity and show positive attitudes.

There is a relentless focus on ensuring that the needs of pupils are understood and met. This ensures that the benefits of the curriculum can be felt by all. For example, for some pupils with SEND, teachers are told what pupils like and dislike.

This allows them to adapt lesson activities to engage the interest of these pupils.

A particular strength of the school is the development of pupils' resilience. The personal, social and health education curriculum focuses on ensuring pupils can express their ideas independently, confidently and respectfully.

Pupils experience the reality of preparing for possible future careers through activities that are planned with local employers. Pupils are eager to take advantage of the rich variety of clubs on offer. For example, the Christmas showcase is a prestigious event in which many pupils participate.

The impressive rehearsals seen by inspectors show that pupils are supported to perform at the highest levels.

Pupils regularly have the chance to celebrate the skills and talents of their peers. In the sixth form, students prepare for future options through a well-designed and purposeful programme.

For example, progression modules are linked to local universities so that pupils experience the world of higher education. Many pupils leave the sixth form to enrol at prestigious universities across the country. There is equally strong support for pupils who wish to pursue other options.

The school ensures that the support in place meets the needs and desires of the pupils at the school.

Trust leaders ensure that they receive clear information about the work of the school. They use this in effective ways to challenge the school to improve.

For example, a recent focus on the performance of disadvantaged pupils has led to significant improvements in attendance and academic outcomes for these pupils. Staff are proud of the work that they do with students and pupils at the school. The support that they receive from school leaders is of an exceptional quality and allows them to meet the expectations upon them.

Leaders and staff strive to improve their already first-rate work to reach even higher quality. This shows the high ambition, unity and togetherness evident at the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.