Upper Wharfedale School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school The headteacher, supported by governors, leaders and staff, has developed an exceptional learning culture within the school, where effort and endeavour are highly valued.

Leaders are uncompromising in their ambition for pupils. A relentless focus on overcoming individual barriers to learning has led to pupils making outstanding progress during their time at school. Leaders have designed a vibrant and rich curriculum which meets the needs of pupils extremely well.

The teaching of the curriculum ensures that pupils develop a deep understanding of what they are learning. Pupils' outcomes are truly outstanding in the widest sense. The...y achieve outstanding outcomes in public examinations and also in terms of their personal development.

Staff are very proud of their pupils and rightly so. Teachers use their excellent subject knowledge to plan learning that will challenge pupils, capture their interests and meet their differing learning needs. They use questioning skilfully to check pupils' understanding and deepen their learning.

Outcomes in mathematics are excellent. Pupils work steadily and consistently to master skills and secure their understanding so that the vast majority of pupils make excellent progress over time. Leaders show extraordinary care for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

They adapt the curriculum thoughtfully, where needed, so that pupils are able to thrive both academically and in their personal development. Pupils feel very safe and well cared for and parents and carers agree. Leaders and governors ensure that the culture of safeguarding throughout the school is extremely strong.

Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is excellent and underpins the happy, caring and inclusive ethos of the school. Pupils are hard-working, resilient and confident young people. Their behaviour is excellent and their attitudes to learning are exemplary.

They are polite, welcoming and friendly, and are very proud of their school. Disadvantaged pupils make strong progress from their starting points because staff meet their individual needs carefully. Pupils are not prompted to correct and improve their grammar, spelling and punctuation consistently.

As a result, errors are not always recognised and corrected. Despite leaders' encouragement and good outcomes in French, the number of pupils studying French at key stage 4 is relatively low.

Information about this school

The school is much smaller than the average-sized secondary school.

The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is below the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is below the national average. The proportion of pupils who have an education, health and care plan is well above average.

Most pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds and the proportion who speak English as an additional language are below average. There are no pupils in the school who attend alternative provision.