Aldersley High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Leaders communicate high expectations for the academy and have created a caring, harmonious community where every student is known as an individual. The academy's focus on students' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good so that students are being well prepared for their futures and for life in modern Britain. The behaviour of students is good.

They are polite, courteous and respectful. They look smart and look after the academy buildings and grounds. Attendance has risen rapidly over recent years and is now above average.

Teachers have good subject knowledge and plan well to ensure that students make good pro...gress in lessons and over time. Leaders and governors have high expectations of staff and students. Teachers are held to account for the achievement of students and receive ongoing training and support to improve their teaching.

The gap between the progress of disadvantaged students and their peers is narrowing. This is because extra funding is used creatively to ensure that disadvantaged students catch up. The quality of provision in the sixth form is good.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Not all leaders make the best use of the new systems to track students' progress to ensure that they are tackling any underachievement quickly. Teachers' marking is inconsistent. Students do not always make the necessary improvements to their work.

Sometimes teachers do not question students in such a way as to make sure they think deeply about their answers.

Information about this school

Aldersley High School converted to become an academy in January 2013. When its predecessor school of the same name was last inspected by Ofsted, it was judged to be good.

The school is a smaller than average secondary school. The proportion of students who have minority ethnic heritages and the proportion who speak English as an additional language are higher than average. Over half the students at the school are supported by the pupil premium (extra funding provided by the government for students who are eligible for free school meals or are looked after), a proportion well above average.

A number of Year 7 students benefit from the nationally funded catch-up programme, which is for students who do not achieve the expected Level 4 in reading or mathematics at the end of their primary schooling. The proportion of disabled students and those who have special educational needs supported at school action is above average at thirteen percent and the proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is above average at eleven percent. The academy takes in a number of students at different times during the year and the stability of the student population is below average.

Six students receive all or part of their education at one of three pupil referral units in the area. Three students are placed full time at the Orchard Centre. The academy runs specially resourced provision for seven students aged 11–18 who have special educational needs for speech, language and communication.

The sixth form is part of a consortium of three local schools. The school is a stand-alone academy and is not linked to a trust. The academy meets the government's current floor standards which set the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress.