Woldgate School and Sixth Form College

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Leaders, including governors, have successfully brought about improvements in the quality of teaching and students' achievements since the previous inspection. Consequently, the overall effectiveness of the college has improved since the last inspection and is good. Students make good progress across the college in a wide range of subjects including English and mathematics.

This is because well-planned, interesting tasks motivate students to work hard and complete a good amount of high-quality work. Standards of attainment are high. In 2014, the proportion of students in Year 11 gaining five or more GCSE grades A* to C, including English... and mathematics, was well above average.

Marking of students' work provides them with clear guidance to which they respond well and this helps them make good progress. Disabled students and those who have special educational needs make strong progress as leaders identify their needs carefully and make sure students receive good support. Sixth-form students are making good progress in their courses because they are taught well and highly committed to their studies.

This is as a result of the decisive actions taken by the head of sixth form. The behaviour of students around the college and in lessons is good. Students attend well and say they enjoy their time in the college and are safe.

Governors know the college well. They carefully check all aspects of the colleges work and provide effective support and challenge to leaders. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Disadvantaged students are not making the same good progress as other students in Key Stage 4.

Very occasionally, students' progress is not checked well enough, and good guidance is not always given to students for all of them to keep a useful record of their work. A few subject leaders are not checking the quality of teaching and student progress as thoroughly as the most effective leaders, particularly in the sixth form.

Information about this school

The college is larger than the average-sized secondary school.

The proportion of disadvantaged students, those supported through the pupil premium is well below average. The pupil premium is additional funding for the support of those students who are known to be eligible for free school meals and those children who are looked after by the local authority. The vast majority of students are White British.

There are very few students whose first language is believed not to be English. The proportion of disabled students and those who have special educational needs is average. The college does not use alternative provision or off-site provision for students.

The college holds the Artsmark Gold award. The college meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectation for students' attainment and progress in English and mathematics by the end of Year 11. The new headteacher took up post in January 2015.