Standish Community High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. From their typically above average starting points, students in Key Stages 3 and 4 make good progress. By Year 11, standards in GCSE examinations are consistently significantly above average.

The proportion of students reaching the highest grades is much higher than average, especially in English. Good, and sometimes outstanding, teaching means that students make good progress. The teaching of English is very strong.

Interesting tasks and activities enthuse and challenge students of varying abilities. The teaching of mathematics is improving. The school's work to keep students safe and secure is outstanding.

It goes to great len...gths to support all students. Students feel very safe. The student support service is highly regarded, helping students to achieve the best they can.

Students' behaviour is good. They show respect towards each other and adults. Most students generally concentrate well and show plenty of enthusiasm.

Attendance is above average and fixed-term exclusions are low. Leaders' expectations of what every student is capable of achieving are very high. The new headteacher is already having a positive impact.

A new system for tracking students' progress even more carefully is paying dividends. Senior and middle leaders know the school very well. They have a good understanding of the quality of teaching and students' achievement and what is needed to improve them even further.

Teaching and achievement, as a result, continue to improve. Governors challenge and support the school well. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Achievement in mathematics is not as good as it is in English.

Students are not given enough opportunities to apply their basic mathematical skills as part of work across the curriculum subjects. Information about students' skills and knowledge is not yet used consistently well to plan and provide work that matches students' varying needs and abilities. The quality of marking across subjects is inconsistent.

Not all students are clear about what they need to do to improve. They are not always given time to respond to teachers' advice and learn from their mistakes. Leaders are yet to ensure that disadvantaged students achieve as well as non-disadvantaged students in the school.

Gaps in the attainment between these two groups of students, especially in mathematics, are yet to be successfully closed.

Information about this school

Standish Community High School is a larger than average secondary school. Most students are from white British backgrounds.

The proportion of disadvantaged students supported by the pupil premium funding is below average. The pupil premium is additional funding for those students known to be eligible for free school meals and for those students who are looked after by the local authority. The proportion of disabled students and those with special educational needs is below average.

A small number of students in Years 10 and 11 take part in a vocational programme off site, provided by Western Skills Centre. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress by the end of Year 11. The headteacher took up post in September 2014.

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