The Appleton School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders and governors have high expectations of pupils and staff.

They were disappointed with the sudden decline in outcomes at key stage 4 in 2018 and have acted quickly to rectify this. Over time, pupils' outcomes at key stage 4 have typically been strong across most subjects. Pupils in the school now are making good progress.

The progress of students following vocational courses in the sixth form is particularly strong. The progress of students on academic courses has improved and is getting closer to that of pupils on vocational courses. Most teachers have high expectations of pupils.

They set challenging work and help pupils... to deepen their understanding over time. Leaders provide strong careers advice and guidance. Pupils are well prepared to move on to their next steps when they leave school.

Pupils generally behave well. They conduct themselves in a calm and orderly way, responding appropriately to adults' guidance. Some aspects of how leaders monitor the impact of their work are imprecise or underdeveloped.

Leaders do not have a secure understanding of the effectiveness of some of their initiatives. In a minority of classes, pupils do not make the same rates of progress as most pupils because : teaching is not as strong. Leaders do not monitor the provision for pupils educated elsewhere on their behalf as well as they should.

Information about this school

The Appleton School is part of the Benfleet Schools Trust, having converted to become an academy on 11 March 2011. The trust delegates responsibility for establishing the curriculum policy and setting targets for pupils' achievement to the local governing body. The headteacher is appointed and managed by the trust.

The school makes use of the following alternative education providers: Children's Support Service (CSS) Langdon Hills Centre, CSS Fairview Centre, CSS Reintegration South, Red Balloon Learner Centre, BEP Academy and Kip McGrath. The school is larger than the average-sized secondary school and serves the area of Benfleet, Essex. The school has a lower-than-average proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals.

The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is lower than average. There proportion of pupils with SEND is lower than the national average. The proportion of pupils with an education, health and care plan is greater than the national average.