The Hollins

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Senior leaders, including governors, have acted with vision and rigour to overcome the areas for improvement identified at the last inspection.

Consequently, this remains a good school. Pupils' social, moral, spiritual and cultural education is excellent. Accordingly, pupils thrive in the school's happy, safe and positive environment.

Furthermore, they are well prepared for their life outside and after school by this outstanding provision. Leaders, including governors, understand the school's strengths and areas for development accurately. Consequently, their plans to improve the school are precise and effective.

For example, sta...ndards in English have risen significantly since the last inspection and are now a strength of the school. Leaders use additional funding for disadvantaged pupils imaginatively and effectively. Therefore, the attendance, behaviour, outcomes and next steps of this group of pupils are good.

Pupils who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities are very well supported because leaders and teachers know these pupils well. Accordingly, they attend regularly and make the progress that they should. School leaders plan Year 7 pupils' transition from primary school carefully.

Consequently, these pupils settle well and are happy. Leaders use Year 7 catch-up funding well. They plan, monitor and evaluate activities to ensure that pupils with low starting points in literacy and numeracy catch up with others effectively.

Safeguarding is effective. Pupils say that they feel safe at school. Staff are well trained and vigilant in supporting pupils' safety and well-being.

Pupils' conduct around the school is good. They have strong attitudes to learning and attend regularly. Relationships with their peers and staff are positive.

Pupils' outcomes are broadly in line with others nationally across a broad range of subjects. They are especially strong in English, geography and art. However, they are variable in history and modern foreign languages.

Leaders have provided training for teachers to ensure that pupils with high starting points are set work that challenges them routinely. This has led to improved teaching of these pupils recently across a range of subjects, but variability remains. Leaders review the curriculum regularly.

Consequently, most pupils follow a broad range of subjects that meet their interests and needs. However, option choices currently available for pupils with low starting points in key stage 4 do not support their outcomes and next steps effectively. d

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress by the end of Year 11. The proportion of disadvantaged students and those supported by the pupil premium funding is in line with the national average. The number of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities supported by the school is below the national average.

The number of pupils who have a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan is below the national average. The school uses alternative provision for a small number of pupils at The Alternative School Accrington. The school is a teaching school and leads a local alliance of schools.