Summerhill School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The resolute, determined and committed leadership of the executive headteacher has resulted in the positive transformation of the school since the previous inspection. Leadership at all levels is effective.

Leaders are well trained and have an accurate understanding of the strengths and weaknesses in their respective areas. The governing body has a detailed understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses. Governors hold leaders robustly to account for their plans and actions.

Pupils currently at the school make good progress across year groups and in the different subjects. The progress that pupils with special educational needs an...d/or disabilities (SEND) make is improving strongly. Leaders are successfully making sure that teachers are well trained to meet the needs of these pupils.

Disadvantaged pupils make good progress in key stage 3. In key stage 4, although improving, some of these pupils make weaker progress than others in the school. The quality of teaching is good, particularly in English.

Teachers know their pupils well and they plan learning that is well matched to the different learning needs of pupils. Leaders and governors ensure that the curriculum effectively promotes pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) awareness as well as their personal development. Behaviour is good.

Pupils are polite, well mannered and courteous. Bullying is rare. As a result, pupils feel safe at school.

Leaders do not check the impact of additional funding to support disadvantaged pupils well enough. The impact of the additional Year 7 catch-up funding is similarly not well monitored. Some teachers do not check pupils' understanding before moving them on to harder work.

This means that occasionally pupils do not make good progress. The quality of teaching and learning in science requires improvement. Leaders have improved communication with parents and carers.

However, not all parents have confidence in the school.

Information about this school

The school is a local authority maintained school. The executive headteacher joined the school just before the previous full inspection, which took place in November 2016.

There has been a significant change of staff since the previous inspection. Ofsted conducted a monitoring inspection of the school in June 2018. This was because : Her Majesty's Chief Inspector was concerned about safeguarding arrangements, aspects of the effectiveness of leadership and management in the school (including governance) and the personal development, behaviour and welfare of pupils at the school.

Inspectors judged safeguarding to be effective, but identified several other areas for improvement. A small number of pupils attend Halesowen College for one afternoon each week. Pupils study animal care and performing arts courses.

The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is well below average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is similar to the national average. The large majority of pupils who attend the school are of White British heritage.