Bordesley Green Girls’ School & Sixth Form

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are happy at this school and want to succeed. They work hard in lessons and enjoy learning. Staff are equally ambitious for pupils.

Teachers have a strong understanding of their subject and prepare pupils well for their examinations. In many subjects, pupils achieve extremely well.

In most lessons, pupils show a positive attitude to their learning and behave well.

They listen carefully to their teachers and complete work to a high standard. At social times, pupils generally behave sensibly. Many pupils sit and chat with friends or play games together.

Pupils say that if incidents of bullying do occur, they are confident that staff will deal wi...th them quickly so they do not persist.

Pupils study a broad range of subjects. At key stage 4 and in the sixth form, there are a range of both academic and vocational qualifications.

Leaders have ensured that the curriculum is inclusive and aspirational to meet the needs of those wanting to go on to higher education.

Many extra-curricular clubs have been disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Several different sports and subject clubs have restarted this year, including art, Urdu and football.

This is appreciated by pupils.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The headteacher, along with other leaders, has taken the right steps to move the school forward. They have tackled the weaknesses identified at the previous inspection and strengthened the curriculum.

In many subjects, including those in the sixth form, the curriculum is well planned and sequenced. Subject leaders have thought carefully about the order in which topics are taught and how pupils build on what they already know. Leaders have also considered what key ideas pupils need to remember so that they can make connections in future learning.

In history, for example, leaders have identified key themes such as conflict and power, that run throughout the curriculum. This enables teachers to revisit these in different topics so that pupils develop a broader knowledge and understanding of the subject.

The number of pupils who study modern foreign languages at key stage 4 is high.

Leaders offer several different languages for pupils to study. However, the curriculum in languages is not coherently planned or sequenced. Leaders have not considered carefully how pupils develop their knowledge in phonics, grammar and vocabulary.

In addition, leaders have not given the subject enough curriculum time at key stage 3 so that pupils can secure their knowledge in sufficient depth.

Many teachers deliver the curriculum well. They have strong subject knowledge and present new information in a clear and appropriate way.

Teachers regularly check learning in lessons to make sure pupils are secure in what they know. They use questioning effectively to help identify pupils' errors and misconceptions and address these quickly. Teachers use activities at the start of lessons to check what pupils can recall from their previous learning.

This helps pupils to know and remember more over time.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported at the school. Those pupils who are part of the school's hearing resource base receive particularly effective support so that they can access the full curriculum.

Leaders have ensured that pupils' learning plans are well matched to their needs, and effective strategies are put in place. Teaching assistants provide effective support in lessons so that pupils can access learning. Leaders have ensured that pupils with SEND feel included in all aspects of the school.

This includes on sports day where there are activities for para-sports.

Leaders have identified pupils who arrive at the school with weak literacy skills. A programme of literacy helps those pupils who need additional support with inference, phonics and speech and language.

Leaders are clear about the positive impact of this work for pupils who are now in Year 8. However, they are less clear about what difference the literacy interventions are having with Year 7. Leaders recognise that further work is required to evaluate literacy strategies more effectively.

Leaders have put in place a clear curriculum for personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education. Pupils develop their knowledge and understanding of a wide range of issues, such as legal and illegal drugs. Leaders are responsive to any issues that arise in school and the local community and adapt the curriculum where necessary.

Leaders have ensured that pupils are taught about topics relating to sex education. However, some areas of sexual health are left until Year 11 before they are taught. Pupils in key stage 3 therefore do not have a full understanding of some topics.

Pupils enjoy the opportunity to take up leadership roles at the school. The school council provides an effective way for pupils to understand democracy. It also allows leaders to gather the views of pupils, which they consider before making changes to the school.

The school provides effective advice and guidance to pupils about further education and careers. A new careers adviser has started to interview pupils about future aspirations and many pupils value the opportunity to complete work experience in Year 10 and Year 12. Pupils in both key stage 4 and the sixth form are made aware of the opportunities available to them, including universities and apprenticeships.

The school is rightly proud of the pupils who go on to study medicine and law and many that go on to other successful destinations.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Leaders have ensured that all appropriate checks are carried out on staff before they begin work at the school.

Staff receive safeguarding training on the updates to government guidance at the start of the academic year. They also receive regular information through bulletins and staff briefings. Staff know what to do and where to go if they have a concern about a child or a member of staff.

Pastoral leaders ensure that pupils receive help and support in a timely way. Pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe through the school's 'values' lessons, alongside the PSHE curriculum. Pupils also learn about e-safety as part of their computing curriculum.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The curriculum in modern foreign languages is not coherently planned and sequenced. In addition, not enough curriculum time has been allocated to the subject to ensure pupils are able to develop their knowledge and skills in sufficient depth. Leaders should ensure that the curriculum in modern foreign languages is well structured and has an appropriate amount of curriculum time.

• There are some new leaders in post and some aspects of the school's work are at an early stage of development. This means that areas such as literacy and careers education have new initiatives in place, but the impact is either beginning to emerge or is yet to be seen. Leaders should ensure that they evaluate all new initiatives carefully so that they continue to have a positive impact on the school's work.

• The relationships and sex education (RSE) curriculum is not sequenced as well as it could be. Some sex education topics are only taught in key stage 4 and therefore younger pupils do not have a full understanding of the issues relating to sexual health. Leaders should strengthen their RSE curriculum so that all year groups understand key sex education topics in an age-appropriate way.