Shelley College, A Share Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Achievement is outstanding.

Students make excellent progress in their studies and reach high standards in English and mathematics by the end of Year 11. The percentages of students, of all levels of ability, making expected progress in both subjects are much higher than usually seen. Similarly, the percentages exceeding the levels of expected progress are well above average.

The progress of students known to be eligible for free school meals is also very impressive indeed and their attainment is much higher than the attainment of similar students across the country. Students are very well prepared for the next stage in their educ...ation and, through the school's own 'Entice' project, they are also exceptionally well prepared for the world of work. The quality of teaching is outstanding.

Teachers know their subjects very well indeed. They also have an accurate understanding of how well their students are doing and where they need extra support. Lesson planning is based securely on this knowledge of students' current performance and leads to activities which meet their learning needs closely.

Students are proud of the school. They behave well and sometimes outstandingly well in lessons and around school. Occasionally, a few students do not apply themselves fully to their learning and this results in a little low-level misbehaviour.

Pastoral care is a strength of the school and disabled students in particular are cared for and supported exceptionally well. The very well-informed headteacher and committed senior leadership team have high ambitions for the school. They reject complacency and show great determination to drive forward improvements.

Academic and pastoral managers share the same view of how successful the school can be. As a result, achievement continues to improve rapidly. Governors have an impressive understanding of performance in all areas of the school's life.

They support the school to the full and challenge the leadership with rigour. The overall effectiveness of the sixth form is good. Sixth-form students mentor their counterparts lower down the school, support them in the classroom and are active in the paired reading scheme.

Teaching in the sixth form is good but there is currently not enough outstanding teaching to ensure that the aspirations of sixth-formers are met as closely as they could be.

Information about this school

The school is much larger than the average-sized secondary school. The proportion of students supported at school action is below average.

The proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is also below that usually seen. The proportion of students supported by the pupil premium, which is additional funding for those students known to be eligible for free school meals, those looked after by the local authority and those from service families, is well below average. The school meets the current government floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress.

Most students are White British and there are few students with English as an additional language. Small numbers of students visit Kirklees College to follow hair and beauty courses. In addition, students attend catering, and hair and beauty courses within the school.

The school is a strategic partner in a Teaching School alliance led by Morley Academy in Leeds. Shelley College converted to become an academy on 1 September 2011. When its predecessor school, Shelley College – a Specialist Centre for Science, was last inspected by Ofsted it was judged to be good.