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Middlewich High school given 'good' rating

'Pupils respond well to leaders’ expectations that they should aspire, believe and belong'

GOOD RATING: Middlewich High School was recently inspected by Ofsted (Picture: Google Street View)

Written by David Norbury

Leaders at a Mid Cheshire high school are ambitious for their pupils, Ofsted believes.

The conclusion was reached at Middlewich High on King Edward Street, Middlewich where a two day visit was carried out by lead inspector Gary Kelly and three other inspectors. They found the overall effectiveness of the school, which has 708 pupils, is good as is the quality of education, the personal development of the students and the leadership and management of the school.

"Leaders are ambitious for pupils," said the lead inspector. "Pupils respond well to leaders’ expectations that they should aspire, believe and belong." In recent years leaders have 'considerably improved' many aspects of the school and pupils and staff spoke positively about the changes they have made.

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An 'increasingly academic culture' has been created and leaders have secured 'considerable improvements' in the quality of education. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those in a specially resourced provision for pupils with SEND achieve well.

Pupils feel happy and safe and typically have positive attitudes to learning and behave well. They enjoy the range of extra-curricular clubs on offer to develop their skills, aptitudes and interests including numerous sports and performance opportunities.

Leaders, together with staff, are committed to providing the best quality of education that they can and staff are keen to develop and embrace new ideas. They have successfully supported subject leaders and teachers to ensure that the curriculum is well designed.

Pupils in key stage 4 can choose from a wide range of academic and vocational courses and an increasing proportion study the English Baccalaureate range of subjects. For the most part, teachers deliver the curriculum consistently well and pupils achieve highly although in a small number of subjects, some teachers are still developing the most effective approaches.

Most students focus on their learning and follow teachers’ instruction diligently. However some 'have not adjusted to higher expectations of their behaviour' and at times these pupils disrupt the learning of others.

Leaders have successfully established effective systems to improve the behaviour of these pupils. Students have a growing number of opportunities available to them include debating societies, reading clubs, sports, drama and music activities.

They are provided with opportunities to meet with local employers and to visit further education and sixth-form colleges in the local area. Staff morale is 'high' and governors skilfully support and challenge leaders to improve the quality of education that pupils receive.

The school converted to become an academy school in December, 2021.

Middlewich High school given 'good' rating

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