Whitworth Community High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Students achieve well across the school. Standards are improving at a faster rate than other schools nationally.

In 2014, students attained significantly better results in many subjects than in previous years. Progress is good. It is particularly strong in mathematics and improving rapidly in English.

Overall achievement is better now than at the time of the previous inspection. The progress of all groups of students, including those who are disadvantaged is now good. Teaching over time is good and has driven the secure improvements in students' learning.

The school provides good opportunities for students to develop their speak...ing skills in all lessons and particularly through the popular 'debating society'. As a consequence, the students are developing as confident, mature and articulate young people. Students demonstrate good attitudes to learning.

They attend regularly and arrive to lessons physically and mentally equipped to learn. They are immensely proud of their school. They consider it to be like a family and wear their uniform with pride.

Students' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is very strong. They demonstrate a real care for one another and their teachers. They demonstrate excellent British values, particularly in tolerance of and respect for each other, regardless of background or ability.

They feel safe and behaviour is good. The headteacher has brought with her a steely determination and set of skills to secure rapid and sustained improvement in all areas especially teaching and achievement. This journey continues with the strong support of governors and the shared vision of all leaders.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Not all teaching is of the highest quality in its impact on students' achievement, including the marking of students' work and teachers' feedback. Staff do not always use information on students' achievement to plan work at the right level of difficulty. Students' achievement in English, while much improved, is not as strong as in mathematics.

Teachers' questioning of students does not always allow them the opportunities to consider more deeply their responses.

Information about this school

Whitworth Community High School is much smaller than the average sized secondary school. The proportion of students who are disadvantaged, those supported through the pupil premium is slightly below average when compared with most schools.

The pupil premium is additional funding for those students who are known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after by the local authority. The proportion of students from minority ethnic backgrounds is well below average. The majority of the students are of White British heritage.

The proportion of students who speak English as an additional language is very small. The proportion of students who are disabled or who have special educational needs is average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress in English and mathematics by the end of Year 11.

A new headteacher has been appointed since the previous inspection. Also, significant changes in English teaching staff has occurred since then. The school does not use alternative provision.