School told to improve fourth time in a row
AN underperforming high school has been ordered to improve by inspectors for the fourth consecutive time.
Christ the King High School and Sixth Form Centre was labelled as ‘Requires Improvement’ after Ofsted spent two days at the school earlier this year.
Although the overall rating remained the same, inspectors found more cause for optimism compared to the previous visit, with three of the five areas assessed ‘behaviour and attitudes’; ‘personal development’; and ‘leadership and management’ - now considered to be ‘good.’
The findings of the inspection – carried out in February before schools were closed to the vast majority of pupils – have now been published and state that action has been taken to carry out recommendations made by Ofsted in 2017.
Inspectors said that progress has gained momentum since September 2019, with the school’s leadership aware of what needs to improve and more work now being done to push disadvantaged pupils to higher achievements.
Praise was also given to staff. The report states: “Most teachers deal well with any disruptions to learning. Pupils are learning more as a result. That said, some pupils, especially disadvantaged pupils, have not made the progress that they should have due to weaknesses in the curriculum. Students’ learning is not strong in the sixth form.
“Pupils behave well in school. Pupils and students enjoy the social areas during breaktimes and lunchtimes.’’
The school’s sixth form centre was one area branded as requiring improvement and it was observed that achievement by those pupils is not good, with the progress made across those two years well below national average.
The report continues: “There is a wide range of opportunities, beyond the academic, that engage pupils and students.
“For example, pupils can play boccia, participate in school productions or build a robot in the lunchtime and after-school clubs. They are encouraged to participate through the ‘CtK way.’ This helps them to develop confidence, independence and resilience.”