William Howard School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The strong leadership of the headteacher and senior leaders has improved the school in all areas since the previous inspection. Leaders have created a positive, welcoming culture.

As a result, the school is highly inclusive. Pupils from a wide geographic area and different backgrounds come together well. The progress and achievement of current pupils are good.

Leaders have taken effective action to address areas of weakness in outcomes in 2018, particularly for boys and for disadvantaged pupils. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Pupils feel safe and well looked after.

Pupils are well mannered and behave well in les...sons and around school. Exclusions are decreasing for most pupils as behaviour improves. This decrease is not as rapid for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) or disadvantaged pupils.

The behaviour of a small proportion of pupils does not meet the high expectations of leaders. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is strong. Governors have an accurate view of the strengths and areas for development of the school.

They hold leaders firmly to account. The provision in the sixth form is good. Students enjoy learning and make good progress as a result.

The persistent absence of some sixth-form students is too high. The curriculum is well designed to meet the needs of pupils and the local labour market. It is enhanced by a wide range of extra-curricular activities and leadership opportunities.

High-quality careers information, advice and guidance prepare pupils well for their next steps. Attendance is above the national average. However, the attendance of disadvantaged pupils, although improving, remains too low.

Too many of these pupils are regularly absent from school. Teaching is good across a range of subjects. However, a minority of teaching does not accurately meet the needs of pupils.

Teachers have high expectations of pupils but some do not implement effectively the school's policy of improving pupils' spelling and vocabulary.

Information about this school

The school is larger than the average-sized school with a sixth form. The school serves a wide rural catchment area.

William Howard School became an academy in February 2012 and is part of Cumbria Education Trust. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is lower than average, as is the proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language. Pupils are predominantly of White British heritage.

The proportion of pupils who are disadvantaged and supported by the pupil premium is below average. A number of pupils are supported through the Year 7 catch-up premium. The proportion of pupils with SEND is above the national average, but the proportion of pupils who have an education, health and care plan is in line with the national average.

The school has a special educational needs resource base for nine pupils with severe learning difficulties. The school currently uses alternative provision at a range of providers to contribute to the education of a small number of key stage 4 pupils. These are The Gillford Centre, Progress Schools, Educla, Carlisle College, RWP Training, Susan's Farm and Stone Eden.