Pensby High School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 22 March 2023

Pupils at Pensby High School wear their uniforms with pride. The school values of 'care, respect and inspire' permeate all that they do. Pupils learn a great deal about tolerance, respect and how to treat each other in the right way. Pupils were unanimous in their view that everyone is accepted for who they are at this school. Leaders have high expectations of what all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), can and should achieve. Pupils achieve well. In the main, pupils behave well in lessons and during social times. They are polite and courteous. Pupils value leaders' high expectations of their behaviour. They said that this helps them to feel safe. Pupils spoke highly of staff. They appreciate how well staff care for them. Pupils were adamant that bullying and discriminatory behaviour are not tolerated. Leaders resolve any incidents of bullying swiftly. Pupils have a strong voice. They value the opportunities that they have to work with leaders to further improve the school. Pupils develop into confident and articulate young people, ready to take their place in modern society. Pupils would readily recommend the school and said that it is a happy and enjoyable place to be.

What the school should improve

• In a small number of subjects, leaders' assessment processes do not check how well pupils have learned the knowledge within units of study. This means that, sometimes, teachers do not identify or address pupils' misconceptions quickly enough before moving on to new learning. As leaders further develop their assessment systems, they should ensure that these systems match the knowledge defined in the curriculum.
• A small proportion of pupils do not attend school regularly enough. This means that they miss out on important learning. Leaders should ensure that they support these pupils to continue to improve their rates of attendance.

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