Ashfield Comprehensive School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

This is a good school. The sixth form is good, with outstanding leadership. The school has many strengths, and teaching and achievement have improved since the last inspection as a result of outstanding leadership and management.

The school is not yet outstanding because not enough teaching ensures that all groups of students make outstanding academic progress. The curriculum, although good, does not prepare them fully for life in multicultural, multifaith modern Britain. Achievement is good for all groups of students, thanks to good teaching that engages and motivates them.

Gaps against national figures are closing rapidly for different groups of students, but this is not yet fully reflected ...in students' attainment over time. The sixth-form leaders are rightly focusing on ensuring that more students gain A* to B grades. The majority of teaching is good.

Outstanding leadership of teaching has helped staff to develop their expertise through coaching and high-quality professional development. Performance management systems hold all staff to account effectively for students' progress. Students comment on how well they are supported in their learning.

Teaching usually provides good challenge but it is not always fine-tuned to really stretch students of different abilities. Behaviour around the school and in lessons is good. Students commented on the prompt action by staff to tackle less desirable behaviour.

The school is very responsive in keeping students safe. Students enjoy coming to school. They are punctual, and attendance is above average.

The school provides good moral, ethical and social activities but misses opportunities to promote spiritual and cultural learning. The curriculum has improved greatly and makes a strong contribution to outcomes for vulnerable students. The good range of courses are matched well to students' interests.

The vocational courses provide good opportunities for pathways into further learning, training and employment.

Information about the school

Ashfield Comprehensive is much larger than the average secondary school. The majority of students are White British.

The remainder come from a small range of different ethnic heritages. The proportion of disabled students and those who have special educational needs is below average. The proportion of students known to be eligible for free school meals is broadly average.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set minimum requirements for students' attainment and progress. The school has specialisms in technology, languages and vocational studies. It is also a designated training school.

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