Patcham High School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 18 April 2023

Patcham High School actively encourages all pupils to experience and value each other's differences, cultures, backgrounds and abilities. It provides a wide range of opportunities through an ambitious academic curriculum that is supported by careers, enrichment and personal development. Welfare, well-being, relationships and sex education are all well covered. Pupils spoken to say that they feel happy, safe and supported. The school offers a broad extra-curricular programme, covering sports, performing arts and subject specialisms. The programme is extensive, but take up is not as high as it could be. Well-focused careers support ensures that aspirations are high. As a result, significant numbers of pupils continue their education post-16. Personal development is effective and actively supports pupils' welfare and well-being. The life skills programme is an umbrella for citizenship, careers and religious education. The subject is valued, although some pupils find some of the content repetitive. Cross- curricular links are developing. Pupils' conduct in classrooms and around the school is generally calm and orderly. Low- level disruption is dealt with quickly and effectively. Incidents of bullying or discriminatory behaviour are scarce. Pupils and parents are aware of who to contact if they have any concerns. School leaders are actively committed to the school's vision of 'One Team, One Dream'. Senior leaders work very well together to ensure that pupils overcome disadvantage, and no one is left behind. Leaders are passionate about education and relentless in developing pupils' self-esteem and self-respect.

What the school should improve

• Cross-curricular links are not always pursued to support pupils' wider knowledge and skills. As a result, pupils do not always make important connections across their learning. In addition, opportunities to highlight life skills across other subjects are missed. Leaders should ensure that the curriculum supports pupils to make connections, especially in life skills, in order to deepen their understanding.
• A small minority of parents and carers do not feel sufficiently engaged and fully appreciative of the efforts the school is making to safeguard their children. As a result, they feel negative about the school and uninformed about its ethos and vision. Leaders should continue to collaborate with parents so that they are sufficiently engaged with the school and better understand the work that the school is doing.

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