Wright Robinson College

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school The headteacher is passionate about improving the life chances of the pupils in his care. He is resolute and determined to ensure that all pupils have the best education whatever their circumstances.

He has created a school which offers an oasis of calm and has an unswerving commitment to ensuring every pupil achieves. Leaders, and teachers at all levels, have exceptionally high aspirations for all pupils. There is a very strong sense of collective responsibility.

They encourage pupils to 'dream big' and pursue challenging goals beyond school. The successes the school achieves are the result of a team effort. Unified leaders have ...a relentless but supportive focus on improving teaching in order to accelerate pupils' progress.

Procedures to monitor pupils' progress are first class. Leaders accurately identify pupils who are not performing at their best and swiftly intervene to secure improvements. The governing body is very well informed about the work of the school; it has an accurate view of the progress pupils make.

Governors give strong challenge and support. There are small gaps in their knowledge regarding looked after children. The curriculum is tailored to match the aspirations and interests of all pupils.

It is enriched with extensive extra-curricular opportunities and frequent charitable activities, which prepare pupils very well for life in modern Britain. Teaching is outstanding because teachers know their subjects and adapt their approaches well to the needs of their pupils. They carefully craft lessons to ensure that no pupil is left behind.

Occasionally, opportunities are missed to deepen pupils' understanding by developing their reasoning skills. Outcomes for pupils are excellent. Pupils make extremely good progress in a wide range of subjects, irrespective of their starting points.

The achievement of disadvantaged pupils is improving rapidly. The school's work to develop pupils' literacy skills is very effective, although a few pupils lack a thirst for reading. All staff build exemplary relationships with pupils and model respect and strong values; consequently, pupils' behaviour is impeccable.

Pupils are courteous and respectful to all staff and show a mutual respect for one another. The pupils' exemplary conduct around the site is matched by outstanding attitudes to learning in the classroom. Pupils believe that the school is a safe haven in which to learn and flourish.

They wear their 'Team Wright Robinson' badges with pride and are appreciative of the high-quality support and teaching they receive. They contribute strongly across the school community. Parents are full of praise for the school.

Pride in the school is shared by staff, governors, pupils and their parents.

Information about this school

The school is a much larger than average 11–16 mixed secondary school. The proportion of pupils eligible for the government's pupil premium grant is more than double the national average.

The pupil premium is additional government funding for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals and those looked after by the local authority. There are more boys than girls and 75% of pupils are White British, with the remainder coming from a wide range of minority ethnic backgrounds. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

The proportion of pupils with a disability or special educational needs is below average and the proportion of those with a education, health and care plan is below average. A few pupils are educated off-site at the Manchester PRU, and a small number of pupils are taught in the Compass Centre, which is led and managed by the school and housed just off the main school campus. The Compass Centre is a temporary provision for pupils whose behaviour is a cause for concern.