Upper Shirley High School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 January 2025

The last two years have seen many improvements for pupils at Upper Shirley High (USH), in their learning and in their wider curriculum. Many parents and carers have noticed this. One accurately described it as 'a reset in standards and expectations'. The school's values - believe, respect and succeed - are signposted everywhere, but are also seen in the way staff and pupils treat each other. Relationships are very positive. Pupils are happy and enjoy coming to school. Bullying is increasingly rare and gets dealt with effectively. The school demands good conduct and most pupils behave extremely well. Staff work hard to correct and support the few pupils who need extra help with this. The school provides many opportunities to excel. It sets high academic standards and most pupils achieve well, including in national examinations. Teachers constantly seek ways to improve how they deliver the curriculum. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. Outside the classroom, pupils take part in a wide variety of clubs and other activities. Many volunteer to take on extra responsibility through the school's programme for pupil leadership. In doing this, they become more confident and learn valuable life skills.

What the school should improve

• Sometimes, strategies to help pupils master key concepts and techniques are not implemented consistently well. When this happens, the quality of pupils' work is less strong. It affects how well some pupils learn and remember important knowledge. Where this is the case, the school should ensure that its strategies are applied consistently to ensure that pupils' knowledge and understanding develop securely over time.

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