Family & Education
King David High Manchester out of special measures
School's drive for improvement 'relentless' says Ofsted, but it still needs to work on behaviour
July 18, 2023 14:43
School's drive for improvement 'relentless' says Ofsted, but it still needs to work on behaviour
July 18, 2023 14:43King David High School Manchester is on the way up after a fresh inspection noted improvements over the past year.
The once outstanding-rated high school, which has 783 students, was demoted to “inadequate” by Ofsted in March 2022 but has now been classified as “good” in three out of four areas - although shortcomings in behaviour led to a “requires improvement” grade overall.
Jonathan Dover, KD’s chair of governors, said the report was “very positive in the areas that Ofsted had raised with us in the past and it is a testament to the leadership qualities of the team of the progress made but we all recognise there is work to be done to build on these positive changes.
“We are pleased that we are no longer in special measures.”
While inspectors had acknowledged some positive aspects in behaviour and attitudes, he added, “We do know this is an area on which we have to concentrate to ensure a more consistent application of the behaviour policy to maintain high standards of conduct across the School. We encourage parents to support us in this endeavour.”
Inspectors remarked on a strong feeling of community at the school underpinned by pupils’ “mutual respect, and their willingness to help each other out.”
They highlighted a “rich, broad curriculum that sets them up well to accomplish their future goals”; impressive A-level results; a revitalised key-stage 3 curriculum; and extracurricular activities that provide “something for everyone, whether this is an academic study club, badminton or conversational Spanish classes”.
Senior leaders had been “relentless” in their drive for improvement.
Pupils now received a comprehensive programme for personal development that that “gives them the knowledge that they need to make informed decisions about life choices”.
They got on with their learning because “the school environment is usually calm and orderly”.
However, sometimes behaviour in lessons can be “disruptive and hinder learning. Despite leaders’ efforts, general routines are not fully embedded across the school. This results in some pupils arriving late to lessons,” Ofsted said.
“In addition, internal suspensions are high, which negatively impacts on pupils’ learning. Leaders’ actions to improve pupils’ attendance are making a difference, but some still do not attend school regularly enough.”
Inspectors also said the weakest readers were not catching up quickly enough and needed more support.