Walton High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

This is a good school.

It continues to improve because it is well led and managed by a very effective headteacher and senior team who have a relentless and successful focus on improving teaching and learning and accelerating students' progress. Students enter the school with attainment which is above average. All groups of students, including disabled students and those with special educational needs, make good progress as they move through Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.

Students' attainment is well above average in examinations at the end of Year 11. The sixth form is outstanding. Student's progress accelerates in the sixth form because teaching is consistently good or outstanding.

A l...evel examination results indicate that progress was outstanding in 2011. Teaching and learning are good. The majority of teaching is good and in some lessons it is outstanding.

Teaching across the school is never less than satisfactory. Most teachers plan well structured lessons, have high expectations of their students, and ask them perceptive and challenging questions. In satisfactory lessons the pace of learning is slower because work is not as well matched to students' needs and insufficient use is made of assessment data to plan learning.

Behaviour and safety are good. Typically, students have good, and occasionally outstanding, attitudes to learning and are keen to succeed. Most behave well in lessons and around the school.

They show kindness and respect for each other, staff and visitors. Students say they feel safe in school and their attendance is above average. On the basis of accurate school self-evaluation, members of the governing body, leaders and managers have identified clear priorities for school improvement.

For example, the school recognises the need to improve communications with parents and carers which, as a small minority of parents and carers commented, are presently underdeveloped and do not allow them to fully support their children's learning.

Information about the school

This is an above average-sized school which has specialist status in science. An average proportion of students are from minority ethnic groups whilst a below average proportion speak English as an additional language.

The proportion of disabled students and those who have special educational needs is below average. A well below average proportion of students are known to be eligible for free school meals. The school meets the current floor standard, whereby the government sets the minimum expectations for attainment and progress.

It has gained Healthy School status and holds International School and Dyslexia Friendly Awards. The school is part of the post-16 Stafford Collegiate of sixth forms and Stafford College. Students from other schools also attend the sixth form.

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