The Hathershaw College

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 14 April 2026

Pupils are proud of their school. They enjoy their learning and are positive about the support they receive from teachers to help them to improve. In lessons, behaviour is positive. Pupils benefit from positive relationships with staff. They appreciate that staff care for them and check on their wellbeing. Pupils are confident to report any worries that they may have. They trust that staff will deal with any bullying quickly. Most pupils are happy to attend school each day. They understand the school’s rules and expectations, and most follow the routines expected of them. There is a range of opportunities which pupils can enjoy to develop their talents and interests. These include learning British Sign Language, crafts, arts, sports teams and taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. Pupils feel safe and are well cared for. They are taught how to keep safe both online and how to manage risks in life. Pupils learn about democracy and tolerance, which helps to prepare them for life in modern Britain. Pupils learn about diverse cultures, religions and the importance of respecting others despite their differences. They celebrate these through a range of cultural days. Pupils with hearing impairments are well supported and fully participate in all that the school has to offer. Pupils who may face other barriers to their learning or wellbeing have their needs met. Pupils do not achieve well in national examinations at the of Year 11. Leaders have begun work to improve the curriculum and teaching but teachers' checks on pupils' learning are not precise enough to ensure that all pupils make secure progress through the curriculum. Pupils are not as well prepared for the next steps in their learning as they should be.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that all pupils achieve their best and that outcomes for pupils in national assessments improve.
• Leaders should support teachers to use assessment procedures with precision across the curriculum to ensure that pupils' misconceptions are identified at the earliest stages. This should ensure that gaps in pupils' knowledge are addressed through effective teaching to help all pupils to catch up and keep up with the curriculum, including in reading and writing.

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