HOCKWOLD AND METHWOLD: Further improvements needed at school say Ofsted inspectors
Hockwold and Methwold Community School
A school has been told to make further improvements in a new Ofsted report.
Hockwold and Methwold School has made some headway since it was judged as “inadequate” during the last inspection in January.
Inspectors Paul Brooker and Heather Housden have judged pupils’ behaviour and the leadership and management as being good.
But they say the quality of teaching and pupils’ attainment needs improvement.
The report states: “The school has reversed the declining trend in results, but standards are not yet high enough at the ends of Key Stages 2 and 4, particularly in English.
“The sixth form also requires improvement.
“Although the quality of pupils’ learning has accelerated and is often good, some pupils do not make the progress that they should.
“Pupils with lower attainment at Key Stage 1 often underachieve at Key Stage 2, and then again five years later when they do their GCSE examinations.”
Hockwold Primary School and Methwold High School were amalgamated in September last year.
But the inspection reports states that the teaching still requires further improvement.
It adds that some teachers are more skilful than others in planning activities for pupils.
The inspectors state: “In lessons, pupils are happy to volunteer answers when asked, but they often do not have the opportunity to work independently or corroboratively.”
Inspectors say that the school’s real strength lies in the staff’s teamwork and determination.
The report states: “When the school was last inspected, achievement, teaching, and leadership and management were all judged inadequate, but this is no longer the case.
“Leadership and management, including governance, are good and the school has good capacity to sustain its improvement.”
Inspectors also state that pupils made a good start at the school due to the provision in the reception class.
It also states that teaching is consistently good in Key Stages 1 and 2.
The report adds: “The unrelenting focus on improving classroom practice has also strengthened teaching in the secondary phase so that much is good or outstanding.
“The pupils’ good behaviour makes a strong contribution to the school’s calm and welcoming atmosphere.
“Pupils of all ages get on well together, and incidents of inconsiderate behaviour or bullying are rare.”
The school is a specialist sports college.
There are plans to make it a sponsored academy in January next year.
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Thursday 23 May 2013
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