Hanley Castle High School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 22 March 2023

Pupils at Hanley Castle High School benefit from an ambitious curriculum for all. Staff help pupils to develop their cultural understanding and think internationally. Pupils, including students in the sixth form, work hard and achieve well. Leaders set high expectations for pupils' work and behaviour, and these expectations are met. Staff use praise well, and pupils benefit from a range of rewards and opportunities to celebrate success. Pupils recognise that staff want the best for them. There are warm relationships between staff and pupils. Staff implement the behaviour policy fairly. These all contribute to pupils behaving well in lessons and at social times. Pupils respect others, including those different from themselves. They are courteous to each other and to adults. Staff take bullying seriously and resolve it promptly. Pupils know who to turn to, and they feel safe and happy. Pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, take part in a wide range of extra- curricular clubs. These include sport and creative activities. Pupils benefit from educational visits, including a sixth-form trip to Auschwitz. Pupils have opportunities to take up positions of responsibility, for example as college captains. Pupils regularly give their views on the school, and leaders act on what they say.

What the school should improve

• Leaders have not ensured that all teachers use the school's new procedures for assessment in the classroom at key stage 3 consistently well. In these instances, teachers do not identify and address pupils' misconceptions and misunderstandings swiftly enough. Leaders should ensure that all teachers make regular and timely checks on pupils' knowledge, so that pupils learn the curriculum well and misconceptions are identified and addressed in a timely manner.
• Leaders have not ensured that all staff implement the guidance they provide on how best to meet the additional needs of pupils with SEND precisely enough. Occasionally, these pupils then lack the most effective support, and do not learn as well as they might. Leaders should make sure that all staff use the information about pupils with SEND effectively so that they can ensure that they learn well.

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