Ofsted 2013 ̶ 14
Survey Inspection Programme: Schools’ use of Alternative Provision
On 10th – 11th June, we received an inspection visit from Ofsted as part of a wider survey, looking into the way that Prince Henry’s uses alternative provision for the small number of students at the school who need to access educational provision away from the main school site.
During his visit, the Inspector met with key staff involved with alternative provision; Mr Watson, the Chairman of the Governors’ Academic & Pastoral Committee; students and some parents/carers; and the external partners who support the school in the delivery of our alternative curriculum. As well as seeing Prince Henry’s in action, the Inspector, accompanied by Mrs Holyoak, Assistant Head with responsibility for Alternative Curriculum, also visited some of the locations where offsite teaching and training takes place.
Although survey inspections do not give a formal judgement under separate headings in the way that a full inspection visit does, the Inspector still applies the same rigorous standards to the inspection process, and I am delighted to report that once again, we have received a ringing endorsement from Ofsted. Some of the key comments made by the inspector include:-
- Leaders and support staff are prepared to ‘go the extra mile’ for the students
- Leaders at all levels of the school, including governors, are heavily involved in the planning, monitoring and evaluating of this aspect of the school’s work.
- Managers at each of the placements I visited also spoke very highly of the support they receive and levels of communication with staff from Prince Henry’s.
- Good detail is given about students’ personal and social needs, including strategies for providers to use to help students.
- Almost all of the students currently attending placements are making good progress in what they are studying and learning about.
- School leaders monitor and evaluate the progress of these students individually, but also as a group and report the findings of this to governors on a termly basis.
- A significant strength of the placements is that all students make good progress in their personal and social development. Some are making exceptional progress.
Please click here to read the full report.
I would like to thank Mrs Holyoak, Mrs Jill Stones, our Diverse Curriculum Manager, and all the staff involved in the delivery of our alternative curriculum, not just for their work in preparing for this visit, but also for the excellent work they do in this area each and every day.
Dr A Evans
Headteacher