High Tunstall College of Science

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Good leadership and high ambition have successfully brought about improvements in pupils' outcomes and the quality of teaching, learning and assessment across the college. The management of teachers' performance focuses successfully on improving pupils' outcomes.

It supports a well-developed, planned training programme that is valued by teachers and that is making a positive difference to pupils' learning experience and their progress. The headteacher, governing body and leaders at all levels work effectively to ensure that teaching continues to improve and enables pupils to make better progress than previously. Pupils currently in the college are... making strong and sustained progress across a wide range of subjects over time.

The college has a very effective pupil tracking system which enables leaders and also governors to monitor pupils' progress and to identify which pupils require extra support. Pupils' behaviour in lessons and around the college is good. Low-level disruption is uncommon and where it does occur, it is dealt with swiftly.

Programmes to support pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness are impressive and a real strength of the college. Pupils are very well cared for and feel safe and secure in the college. They trust the teachers and adults who support them.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teachers' expectations of how pupils present their work vary. This is because teachers do not ensure that pupils develop their handwriting and use literacy skills to develop their work further. Teachers do not consistently follow the college's marking and feedback policy, with the result that some pupils do not learn from their mistakes.

While pupils' attendance rates are average overall, the weaker attendance of some disadvantaged pupils has a negative impact on their learning and progress.

Information about this school

High Tunstall College of Science is larger than the average-sized secondary school. Most pupils are of White British heritage.

Almost all pupils speak English as their first language. The proportion of pupils entitled to support through the pupil premium (additional government funding for those pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals and those children looked after by the local authority) is average. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities or who have a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan is below average.

There is a specialist resource unit for up to 20 pupils with medical and physical needs and autistic spectrum disorder, known as 'The Base'. A very small number of pupils attend vocational courses off site at The Welly at the Throston Youth Centre. A small number of pupils are educated off site at the Hartlepool Pupil Referral Unit.

The college meets statutory requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. The college meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress by the end of Year 11. There have been many changes to staffing since the previous inspection.