Whitecross Hereford

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Senior leaders' high aspirations permeate school life. They expect high standards of all staff, pupils and themselves. On the whole, these standards are met.

All staff want pupils to succeed and thrive. Pupils enjoy school and do well. The motto of 'Excellence for all – Excellence from all' is evident.

Pupils' behaviour is good. Lessons are generally calm and free from disruption. Pupils are friendly, courteous and welcoming.

Positive relationships between staff and pupils are commonplace and a pleasure to observe. Pupils describe their teachers as kind and caring. They are confident in their teachers to swiftly deal with any incidents when they occur.
...r/>Leaders place great emphasis on pupils' personal development. They have focused on supporting pupils' mental health, personal growth and fostering positive attitudes to learning. For example, pupils speak passionately about Nell, the school dog, who greets all pupils as they arrive to school in the morning.

As a result of this work, pupils value the education their teachers provide.

Leaders have planned a wide-ranging offer for pupils to follow their interests and talents. This includes numerous sporting activities, instrumental lessons, clubs, visits, trips and opportunities to take on leadership roles within the school.

Pupils speak positively about the many things they can get involved in.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Senior leaders have designed a curriculum to meet their high aspirations for pupils. This curriculum is ambitious, broad and balanced.

Leaders have mapped out in each subject what knowledge and skills pupils should learn and when. Subject leaders have logically sequenced the learning in their subjects. This ensures that pupils build up their knowledge over time, including the disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Teachers use assessment very well to inform their teaching. They check effectively that pupils have understood everything they have been taught. Teachers quickly adjust their teaching to fill any gaps in knowledge.

As a result, pupils do well.

Leaders ensure that the provision for pupils with SEND helps them to be successful. Staff quickly identify anyone who may need extra help and put support in place.

Teachers receive a range of relevant information about pupils. This includes how best to support them in lessons. Generally, this works well and pupils receive the help they need to learn.

However, at times the support provided by additional adults is less effective. Staff either intervene too late or too early. When this happens, pupils are not able to access their learning and disengage from it.

Leaders support pupils who are at the early stages of learning to read very well. Teachers quickly assess who needs support. Pupils receive individualised intervention to help them become proficient readers.

Pupils are getting better and say that they know how important reading is because of this help.

The curriculum to further pupils' personal development is well planned. Pupils learn about a range of topics to ensure they become well-informed young adults.

This includes work around healthy relationships, substance misuse and sex education. Pupils learn about possible career routes and further education options. Leaders use alternative providers well to support the education of a few pupils.

These placements are carefully chosen to meet pupils' needs and career aspirations. As a result, pupils thrive on these placements. Leaders have ensured that pupils are well prepared for their next steps and future life.

The vast majority of pupils attend school regularly. However, there remains a number of pupils who are persistently absent. This means that they are missing valuable learning time.

Senior leaders and those responsible for governance have a strong understanding of their school's strengths and weaknesses. They work with determination to address any shortcomings. For example, they have ensured that there are strong safeguarding arrangements in place.

Parents are complimentary about the education and pastoral support offered to their children. Staff are unanimous in their support for leaders. They feel valued and say that leaders are mindful of their workload and well-being.

They readily refer to the school as the 'Whitecross family'.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders have created a robust culture of and vigilance around safeguarding.

All staff receive regular safeguarding training and know what to do if they have any concerns about a pupil. Staff swiftly report any concerns to the expert safeguarding team.

The safeguarding team works effectively together to ensure that pupils and families receive the help and support they need.

Leaders work swiftly to ensure that pupils are kept safe. They work well with outside agencies when needed.

Leaders make appropriate checks on anyone who comes into their school and keep accurate records.

They have ensured that all safeguarding arrangements are fit for purpose.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Some additional adults do not provide effective support to pupils with SEND. Support is either too slow or staff intervene too quickly, thus not giving pupils enough thinking time.

When this happens, pupils become confused and are not able to access their learning. Leaders should ensure that all staff provide consistently effective support to these pupils in lessons. ? Some pupils continue to be frequently absent from school.

While the number is declining, it remains high. This means that those pupils miss out on aspects of their education and their learning is interrupted. Leaders should ensure that pupils attend school frequently to benefit from the education on offer.