Southend High School for Boys

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Everyone is incredibly proud to be part of the school. Pupils are extremely well supported by staff and their peers, which ensures they are happy and safe. They have an unbreakable sense of community.

This endures well after they have left through 'The Old Southendian Association', which sustains friendships.

Pupils see themselves as a positive force for change. Pupils lead pioneering work on promoting understanding of neurodiversity.

They are proactively growing this work across other schools nationally. Pupils develop a strong sense of moral purpose.

Pupils treat each other with tolerance and respect.

They know what doing the right things ...means. This is central to the school's values and culture. Pupils manage their own behaviour very well.

This is because their sense of responsibility is so strong. For example, at lunchtime, they pleasantly organise games of 'keepy uppy' or chat in groups, with only minimal supervision needed.

The quality of education pupils experience is second to none.

Pupils are challenged and supported to be their absolute best. They benefit from passionate and expert teachers who help ensure pupils consistently achieve the highest standards.

Enrichment opportunities are vast.

Wherever pupils have talents and interests, staff ensure they can pursue these fully.

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

Southend High School for Boys is an inspirational place. Very long-standing leaders have worked with newer leaders to establish a culture of excellence.

However, to say the school is just about academic excellence would not do it justice. There is an entire culture that develops pupils as young adults who have the highest levels of decency.

The school has put in place a broad, rich and inspiring curriculum that is extremely ambitious.

On many occasions, what pupils learn goes well beyond the national curriculum or examination specification. For example, pupils become familiar with more sophisticated notions of mathematical proof as early as Year 10, building on the confidence they have developed in manipulating algebra. Sixth-form art work is of an extremely high standard and provokes deep emotion and thought.

It is easy to see why the school's examination results are in the top few percent nationally.

Leaders have deliberately developed and recruited expert teachers who have a passion for what they do. Staff provide a wealth of opportunities for pupils to extend the depth of their knowledge.

This is because teachers enjoy imparting their expertise and pupils are enthusiastic to learn as much as possible. The school has established a culture that promotes a thirst for academic enquiry and knowledge acquisition.

Pupils study a range of highly ambitious novels.

The school library plays a pivotal role in school life and functions in a similar way to a university library. Staff inspire pupils about reading and books. Pupils become avid readers as result.

The school has been recognised as one of the leading schools in the world for the experience it provides for higher attaining learners. However, provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is just as strong. To extend the inclusive reach of the school, leaders have opened a specialist resource base for pupils with autism.

Staff skilfully ensure these pupils access the same ambitious curriculum alongside their peers and achieve very well.

The same levels of excellence exist in the sixth form. The school has thought very carefully about how to make girls who join at this point feel at home.

Girls appreciate the freedom, creativity and meaningful student leadership roles they can take on in the sixth form.

The school has ensured that no stone is left unturned in terms of the quality of careers guidance pupils get, right from Year 7. In the sixth form, every student, no matter their background, is supported to excel.

It is routine for students to gain entry to prestigious universities or apprenticeship placements.

Leaders enable pupils to know the value of supporting others, politeness and treating everyone with respect. Staff reinforce this where needed to ensure pupils stay at their best.

Leaders have ensured levels of attendance are high. Leaders provide appropriate support to overcome barriers to attendance.

Leaders have brought the words of the school song 'one with future and with past, our work in school shall live and last' to life through the house system.

Rich personal development is extensively promoted through music, drama and an impressive annual programme of house competitions. These promote social and moral understanding of how to deal with both victory and defeat. The school supports all pupils to realise their talents fully.

The school has won many national competitions and had numerous students represent their country at sport.

Trustees know the school well. They robustly challenge, support and plan effectively for the future.

Staff know school leaders balance empathy with supporting them to be their best. Staff hold leaders in the very highest regard.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.