Ofsted tells Dinnington High School it "requires improvement"

Ofsted said Dinnington High “requires improvement” in four main areas: effectiveness of leadership and management; quality of teaching, learning and assessment and personal development; behaviour and welfare; and outcomes for pupils.

But inspectors praised its 16-19 study programmes, which were rated good.

The two-day inspection in November was the school’s first since it converted to academy status two years ago. It was rated as good across the board in 2014.

Inspectors noted a new leadership team was in place but said standards varied too widely across the school and some children were held back by their literacy.

Principal Rebecca Staples said: “Ofsted noted that the new leadership team know the school well and we have the capacity, strategies and systems in place to continue our tremendous journey of improvement and transformation”.

But lead inspector Stuart Cleary said: “The actions that new leaders have recently taken have not had sufficient impact to secure consistently good teaching across the school.

“New middle leaders are yet to have an impact on improving the quality of teaching.

“Pupils, over time, particularly disadvantaged pupils and those eligible for support through Year 7 catch-up funding, have not made enough progress in a range of subjects including English and particularly mathematics.”

Mr Cleary said teaching at the 1,070-pupil school was too variable and teachers’ expectations were not consistently high, while weak literacy skills were limiting some pupils’ progress.

He said leaders had not improved the poor attendance and reduced the persistent absence of disadvantaged pupils rapidly enough.

But he added: “The recently-appointed principal, Rebecca Staples, has a clear understanding of the school’s strengths and weaknesses.

“She is well-supported in her drive to improve standards. Governors and new trustees now have a much better understanding of the school’s strengths and weaknesses.” 

Safeguarding was also effective and pupils said they felt safe, Mr Cleary said.

The 141-pupil sixth form was “a strength”, where teaching was “stronger and more consistent”, the report said.

Ms Staples said the school was “well on its way to regaining its former glory”.

Andy Riches, chief executive officer for the LEAP multi-academy trust, which runs the school, said: “The transformation in less than a year under Ms Staples’ leadership is fantastic and the school is on a tremendous journey to achieving excellence.”