Townsend Church of England School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Senior leaders rigorously check all aspects of the school's work. As a result, teaching and students' achievement have improved rapidly.

Governors provide good support and challenge to senior leaders and are becoming increasingly effective. Students learn well in English, mathematics and other subjects. In 2014, the proportion of students achieving the equivalent of five GCSE passes at grades A* to C, including English and mathematics, was above average.

Teachers have strong subject knowledge and plan interesting activities which motivate students. Marking helps students to achieve well because it gives them advice on what they need to d...o to improve their work. Behaviour is good.

Relationships in the school are positive and the students feel safe, and are known and valued as individuals. All groups of students make good progress and the standards they reach are rising. Support for disabled students and those who have special educational needs is strong and this enables them to do well.

Spiritual, moral, social and cultural aspects of students' learning are well developed. The school prepares students well for life in modern democratic Britain, and its focus on developing respect for all is exemplary. The sixth form is good.

Collaboration with the Alban Learning Partners Consortium is good and students are provided with a wide range of study programmes. It is not yet an outstanding school because : The quality of work in students' books in a few classes is not as good as that in most of the other classes. Teachers' questioning does not always require students to think deeply.

Some students are not acting on the advice they are given through marking well enough to improve the quality of their work. Although the most-able students achieve well, they are not always challenged to reach their full potential.

Information about this school

Townsend Church of England School is a smaller than average-sized secondary school.

It is the only voluntary aided Church of England secondary school in Hertfordshire. The large majority of students are White British. At 24%, the proportion of students from minority ethnic backgrounds is broadly average.

However, relatively few students speak English as an additional language. At 18%, the proportion of students who are disadvantaged and so eligible for the pupil premium is lower than average. Pupil premium is extra funding provided by the government for students known to be eligible for free school meals and those in the care of the local authority.

The proportion of disabled students and those who have special educational needs is above average, at around 30%. Some sixth form courses are taught in other schools, and some courses taught in Townsend are taken by students from other schools. A small number of students attend the Links Education Support Centre (Academy) and the Dacorum Education Support Centre.

They receive support for full-time GCSE equivalent qualifications and intensive outreach support pending a return to Townsend. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress. The school runs a breakfast club that is well attended.

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