Norton Canes High School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 30 April 2024

This is a small secondary school where staff get to know pupils well. Pupils value the individual care and support they receive, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school has started to raise expectations for what pupils can achieve. This is beginning to make a difference. Pupils' behaviour has improved since the last inspection. Generally, pupils behave well. In lessons, pupils usually focus on the work they are set and respond positively to what teachers ask of them. At social times, pupils are largely calm and orderly. Pupils told inspectors that bullying is dealt with swiftly. Currently, too many pupils are persistently absent from school. The school has started to make improvements to the curriculum. Pupils have more opportunities to study different subjects at key stage 4. However, there remains variability in how well the curriculum is taught. As a result, pupils, and students in the sixth form, do not make enough progress in their learning. There is a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities for pupils to take part in. Several pupils take part in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. There are also different clubs that take place at lunchtime and after school.

What the school should improve

• The school does not ensure that teachers consistently check pupils' learning. This means that gaps in knowledge go undetected and misconceptions and/or errors are not picked up quickly. The school should ensure that all teachers check pupils' learning effectively to help secure their knowledge and understanding.
• Pupils are not always provided with work which is well matched to their ability, and the expectations of pupils are sometimes too low. This means that some pupils find work too difficult or easy and produce work that is not consistently of a high quality. The school should ensure that teachers carefully select work that enables all pupils to make the progress of which they are capable.
• Too many pupils are persistently absent from school. This does not help pupils to establish important routines and prepare them for later life. The school should continue to take action to ensure persistent absence is reduced.
• The school's induction and recruitment process to the sixth form is not rigorous enough. This has meant that students have ended up on courses that are not well matched to their needs, and some have underperformed in their examinations. The school should ensure that it provides effective support and guidance to students so that they opt for more appropriate courses and make better progress in their learning.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)