INSPECTION REPORT
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

share with senior leaders a willingness to look for improvement in aM areas of school life. The same very good leadership ensures that pupils with special educational needs receive very good quality care and guidance in the school.

39. Teachers speak highly of the school’s strategies for the induction of new staff and they make particular mention of the approachability of their colleagues whatever their level of responsibility. They are grateful for the opportunities they have to share good practice and are delighted that their ideas are valued. Furthermore, the school plays an important role in the training of new entrants to the profession and has an enviable reputation in this area, The excellent programme of graduate teacher training has been a significant feature in the very successful effort to recruit and retain very good teachers.

40. The school’s arrangements for financial planning and control are very secure. It uses the funds available to it very well and accounts for them appropriately and accurately. In relation to the quality of education provided, the results achieved and pupils’ personal development, value for money is excellent.

41. The governors are rightly very proud of what the school has to offer its pupils and are very committed to its continued success. They give freely and extensively of their time to visit the school and to support the pupils and staff. They are well aware of the school’s strengths and areas for development and play their part in the evaluation of policy and practice. They participate in strategic and financial planning and examine proposals for development closely and thoroughly. The statutory duty to provide a daily act of collective worship is not met but governors have already introduced an audit of the school’s provision in this regard. They are now looking to establish procedures for reporting standards in lOT in Years 10 and 11.

Financial information

Financial in formation for the year April 2003 to March 2004

Income and expenditure (£)
Total income 4,315,085
Total expenditure 3,943,182
Expenditure per pupil 3,889

Balances (E)

Balance from previous year

258,123

Balance carried forward to the next 330,163

42. The balance carried forward each year is higher than might be expected because the school holds funds for other partners in the Leading Edge and Graduate Teacher Training programmes.

OTHER SPECIFIED FEATURES

Work-reated learning

The quality of provision for work related learning is satisfactory.

Main strengths and weaknesses

  • All pupils benefit from a carefully organised work experience programme.
  • The school is actively seeking ways to meet new requirements without undermining the very good quality of its existing provision.
  • There is no systematic assessment of pupils’ work~related achievements.

Commentary

43. Work-related learning has a satisfactory effect on pupils’ achievements. Standards in GNVQ CT, the one vocational subject which pupils can study in Years 10 and 11, are well above the