Walthamstow School for Girls

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school The headteacher provides exceptional leadership.

She inspires staff and pupils to have the highest aspirations for themselves and others. Governors are ambitious and challenging. They contribute towards the school's success through rigorous monitoring and challenging of the school leaders, and themselves, to do better where necessary.

The high quality of teaching leads to pupils making outstanding progress. Teachers use their strong subject knowledge and understanding of pupils' needs to prepare well-structured lessons. Pupils achieve very high standards and make excellent progress across a range of subjects, including in English ...and mathematics.

Disadvantaged pupils, including the most able, receive highly effective support. They consistently make better progress than other pupils nationally. The curriculum is tailored to match the aspirations and interests of all pupils.

The breadth of pupils' experiences, supported by an extensive extra-curricular programme, prepares pupils very well for life in modern Britain. Pupils' attitudes to learning are highly positive. They engage with work set in class diligently and participate in the wide range of extra-curricular opportunities.

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary both in lessons and during social times. They show a high level of consideration for each other, respecting diversity. There is a strong culture of safeguarding in the school.

The large majority of parents are enthusiastic in their support for the school and pupils report feeling safe and happy here. At times, inconsistencies in the effectiveness of questioning by teachers result in missed opportunities to further deepen pupils' understanding.

Information about this school

Walthamstow School for Girls is a secondary school in the London borough of Waltham Forest.

The school is the lead school in the Waltham Forest Green Teaching School Alliance. The proportion of pupils eligible for pupil premium funding is above the national average. The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is above the national average.

The proportion 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 at The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London. The school meets the government's floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress by the time they leave school.