Therfield School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Shared ambitions ensure that governors, senior leaders and middle leaders have high expectations for the school.

As a result, the school has made significant improvements since the last inspection. Students do well in their GCSE examinations because there are very good systems in place to check how much progress they are making and because action is taken quickly to support them if they are falling behind. Teaching is typically good and some is outstanding.

It has improved since the last inspection because school leaders have taken effective action to tackle any inadequate teaching. Students' behaviour in lessons and around the school is ...good. They are polite and respectful and feel safe.

The number of exclusions has fallen significantly and attendance has improved since the last inspection. There are many opportunities for students to attend clubs and extra classes. The focus on providing opportunities for students to develop their leadership skills has enabled the school to develop good links with the community, local businesses and other schools.

The sixth form is good. Students are well taught and make good progress from their starting points to achieve well. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Achievement is not yet outstanding because : students' progress and attendance in the sixth form are not checked as well as in the rest of the school.

Data is not used sufficiently well to cater for the needs of all students in the sixth form. The quality of teaching is not yet outstanding because marking and feedback are not used consistently to help students to improve their work, and some activities are not matched sufficiently well to the needs of every student in the class.

Information about this school

Therfield is larger than the average-sized 11 to 18 mixed comprehensive school.

There are more boys than girls in the school. The school holds specialist status in sports. Nearly all students are of White British heritage.

A very small proportion speak English as an additional language. The proportion of students known to be eligible for the pupil premium funding (additional government funding for children in the care of the local authority, students known to be eligible for free school meals and those from service families) is below average. The proportion of disabled students and those with special educational needs who are supported at school action is above the national average.

The proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is below the national average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress. The school makes arrangements for a small number of students in Year 10 and 11 to access alternative provision or work-related courses through 'The Link', a school-funded facility accommodated off site.