"Pupils have the best possible chance to succeed", Ofsted 2021

Graded Ofsted Outstanding - Inspection December 2021 

Here's some comments we're proud of:

• Leaders have high ambitions for every pupil
• Pupils have the best possible chance to succeed
• Staff are proud to work in the school and enjoy their work. They feel exceptionally well-supported to do their job. 
• Pupils feel safe because they know staff will listen. Pupils can relax and enjoy their time at school. 
• Pupils are taught to respect everyone and are sensitive to feelings of others
• Pupils are able to develop resilience and the ability to keep themselves safe in school, in the community and online.
• Bullying is extremely rare
• Leaders have given much thought to developing a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum; thought very carefully about the strengths and interests of pupils; they offer courses and subjects suit pupils well. They have introduced Animal Husbandry and BTEC Sports Science.
• Curriculum leaders have excellent knowledge of their subject
• Leaders have prioritised reading, They have developed reading areas and libraries; invested into a wide range of books, carefully considering pupil's interests. This helps pupils to become fluent readers.
• Pupils study the national curriculum up Year 9 and options for older pupils are reviewed each year to make sure they suit their interests and abilities, for example Classics, Photography, 3D Art.
• Many pupils arrive after a period of disrupted education and staff get them back on track. Leaders and staff help pupils manage their own behaviour, to re-engage with learning and to gain qualifications that set them up well for adult life.
• Staff understand why pupils behave the way they do. They gain pupil's trust and skilfully help them learn to control and manage their behaviours.
• Leaders and staff make sure that pupils are able to develop resilience and ability to keep themselves safe.
• A wide range of visits and sports clubs to extend pupil's horizons and expand their experiences

 

School Ofsted visit December 2020

On the 9th December, the School participated in an OFSTED Interim Research Visit. The GOV.UK website states:

'These visits are designed to support schools in their important work to welcome all pupils back full-time. Interim visits will not: result in any evaluation or graded judgement of a school. change a school's current Ofsted inspection grade, use the education inspection framework and school inspection handbook.'

We were pleased to be able to support Her Majesty's Inspectorate with researching the effects of COVID on schools. Please read this feedback letter following the visit. 

 

School Ofsted Inspection 2016

The latest 2016 school inspection report said the "school continues to be Outstanding". This is the 4th inspection where the school has been judged as Outstanding. 

Here's some comments from our 2016 Ofsted report we're proud of:

• "The school continues to be outstanding"
• "The collective vision and drive to provide a school which meets pupils' holistic needs results in pupils' exceptional progress.. are prepared well for their life beyond school"
• "Parents said of staff 'They show real understanding and value each child as an individual'
• "One parent reported that her son 'is recognised for the person he is, not what teachers want him to be'. Consequently, pupils progress rapidly, often from extremely low starting points and being unable to access learning when they join school, to the achievement of higher grades in academic and vocational subjects."
• "The behaviour of pupils, undoubtedly, remains a strength of the school. Pupils who join the school respond to strong role models of other well behaved pupils. As a result, they begin quickly to develop their own strategies to regulate their emotions and behaviours."
• "The school's record show that bullying is almost non-existent. Pupils spoken to said that they could not recall an incident of bullying."
• "Pupils benefit immensely from the broad range of therapy and additional support services provided by the school. Highly focused support packages, in the form of precise interventions with pupils or training for staff in how to support pupils' specific needs, are integrated into the day-to-day routine at West Kirby. As a result, pupil's self-confidence and self-esteem flourish because they are given the skills to overcome their own very specific difficulties."
• "The the time learners leave the school's Sixth Form, they are well on the way to becoming well-rounded young adults capable of making a significant contribution to society."

 

School Full Ofsted Inspection 2013

Following a full Ofsted school inspection, January 2013 and the report judged WKS to be 'Outstanding in all areas'. They said:

• "The school continues to provide an excellent education...senior staff have not rested on their laurels. They continue to drive forward improvements...."
• Praising the high level of outstanding teaching the inspectors said, "The achievements of the pupils are excellent... because of the consistently high quality teaching and care they receive."
• The five areas judged to be outstanding are: achievement of pupils; quality of teaching; behaviour and safety of pupils; leadership and management and overall effectiveness.