115. Pupils take part in a good range of citizenship activities through personal, social, health and careers education and subject lessons, visiting speakers, assemblies, and in involvement in fund raising for charities. They have good opportunities to take on responsibilities at school, for example, prefects, membership of the school council and peer mentoring. The subject is very well supported by contributions from other subject areas. Each subject has been required to audit teaching and learning opportunities, to include specific reference to these in schemes of work and to produce departmental policy to support the citizenship component of lessons. For example, in a Year 9 history lessons pupils were asked to consider the implication for Jewish people in Nazi Germany who had their citizenship of that country withdrawn. They became totally involved in the lesson, and were able to consider the implication of having their citizenship rights withdrawn from them.

116. The subject co~ordinator only took responsibility for the area at the beginning of the present academic year. She has already demonstrated good leadership and management. Much is now in place, but she is very aware of how the subject needs to move forward, which includes the development of the newly introduced assessment policy, and she has the ability and energy to put in place the necessary measures.

Personal, social and health education

• Provision for personal, social, health and careers education (PSHCE) is good
  
  Main strengths and weaknesses
  
• Provision is well managed to integrate citizenship and religious education.
  
• Very good relationships create an ethos of curiosity and genuine debate in lessons.
  
• The careers programme is well organised and pupils appreciate the advice that is available.

Commentary

117. Standards in personal, social, health and careers education lessons are above average by Year 9 and Year 11. Pupils in Year 9 are confident and aware that they have progressed to a sophisticated level of discussion on issues such as how to say no to sex. In Year 8 they show a good understanding of the consequences of alcohol abuse, and the atmosphere in lessons means that they are able to disagree maturely. By Year 11 pupils are efficient researchers and can exploit the potential of the Internet to provide serious religious perspectives on terrorism. This represents good achievement from their average discussion and research skills when they came to the school.

118. Teaching is very good and supports very good learning. Pupils are highly collaborative and show a good commitment to developing their understanding. They stay on task throughout their lessons and they show genuine curiosity. This is primarily because the teachers’ expertise gives them confidence, and the warm relationships create an atmosphere of complete trust.

119, The provision is well organised to develop progressively higher levels of skill and understanding. Careers education is effective and pupils recognise the good quality of the guidance and information they receive. Improvement has been satisfactory since the previous inspection. Citizenship has been effectively integrated into the programme, though work. related learning is in the very early stages of development.