Leventhorpe

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

Leventhorpe is an outstanding school with an outstanding sixth form.

Outstanding leadership and management at all levels have established a highly cohesive and inclusive learning community, which provides a rich range of curriculum experiences and a sustained focus on supporting students in the main school and sixth form to do as well as they can. Students are rapidly absorbed into the school's calm, purposeful ethos. They make rapid progress and attain academic standards which are significantly above average.

Academic standards show an improving trend and recent acceleration. Achievement is outstanding. Learning and teaching across the main school and sixth form and in most subjects is consis...tently of high quality with much teaching which is outstanding.

Teachers are skilled at motivating and engaging students. They have positive relationships with the students. There is strong mutual respect.

They create a supportive atmosphere in which students are confident to share their ideas. Students' conduct around the school is exemplary and their excellent behaviour in lessons makes a significant contribution to their learning and progress. Students feel very safe in school.

Bullying is rare. The school council is very active and contributes to formulation of school policy. Nevertheless, a minority of students felt that the school was not interested in their views about the school.

Sixth formers have their own perspective about the organisation of the sixth form but no clear forum to express their views. There is strong provision for students' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The school fosters students' self-esteem and independence as learners particularly well.

The result is that students in the main school and sixth form develop as well-rounded young people, confident and aspirational. They want to achieve and do well. A very large majority of Year 13 students go on to higher education.

Information about the school

The school is above average in size compared to other secondary schools. The proportion of students known to be eligible for free school meals is low. Although the school is enriched by students from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds, most students are of White British heritage.

The proportion of students with special educational needs and/or disabilities is low, including the proportion of students with a statement of educational needs. The school has held specialist Business and Enterprise status since 2004. It converted to an academy in August 2011.

It is also a Training School. The school works in close partnership with another school and other providers to extend the curriculum that is offered, particularly in the sixth form. The school hosts a programme of adult learning courses and a new joint-use school and community leisure centre has recently been opened.