Teesdale School and Sixth Form

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school Highly aspirational, determined and committed leadership has transformed Teesdale School and Sixth Form. The North East Learning Trust has brought its considerable capacity to bear.

The trust has provided the financial and professional impetus needed to rapidly improve the school. The strategic oversight of trustees and the local academy council has been crucial. Outcomes for pupils are outstanding.

They have improved rapidly since the school joined the trust. Last year, pupils made significantly more progress across a broad range of subjects than was seen nationally. Pupils currently in the school are making stronger progress sti...ll.

They are aspirational, hard-working and committed to their studies. Attendance is above the national average. Pupils with lower starting points and with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) make impressive progress because of the bespoke support and teaching they receive.

The school's aspirational and well-planned curriculum is the bedrock of its success. Leaders have successfully broadened the curriculum, reintroduced subjects that had been lost and ensured that far more pupils are following challenging courses. The quality of teaching is outstanding.

Excellent training and development opportunities coupled with precise feedback help teachers to skilfully deliver the curriculum. Just occasionally, some teachers' questioning does not challenge pupils to think deeply enough. Pupils show highly positive attitudes.

They take pride in their work and diligently complete homework tasks. Some younger pupils are less confident to answer questions fully. Behaviour in lessons and around the school is exemplary.

The use of exclusions is low and is falling. Bullying is rare. Records show few incidents of unkindness because the vast majority of pupils are respectful and tolerant.

Pupils feel safe. Work done to support pupils' personal development is comprehensive. The wide range of enrichment and extra-curricular opportunities available ensures that pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fostered highly effectively.

The sixth form has been transformed. Students currently following 16 to 19 study programmes receive an outstanding quality of education. A few students have not had an appropriate work experience.

Despite this, all students progressed into higher education, employment or training last year.

Information about this school

Teesdale School and Sixth Form became an academy on 1 September 2016. It is sponsored by the North East Learning Trust.

The governance of the school is overseen by a board of trustees with most day-to-day responsibilities for governance managed by the school's local academy council. Teesdale School and Sixth Form is smaller than the average-sized secondary school. Most pupils are White British.

Few pupils are from minority ethnic groups and very few pupils speak English as an additional language. A below average proportion of pupils are known to be eligible for support through the pupil premium. There is a below-average proportion of pupils with SEND.

The proportion of pupils who have an education, health and care plan is also below average. The school does not use any alternative education providers. The North East Learning Trust has provided a considerable amount of support, including financial investment and the allocation of an executive headteacher.