Waseley Hills High School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 4 February 2025

Staff, pupils, parents and carers welcome the improvements to Waseley Hills High. Staff know pupils well and always have their best interests at heart, with many pupils saying, 'Staff here really care.' Pupils and staff feel proud to belong to this harmonious and welcoming school community. The school's values of 'Aspire, Invest, Respect' are shared and upheld by the majority of pupils. These values exemplify the high standards the school expects. Pupils are courteous and respectful to others. They take pride in their work and speak knowledgeably about what they have learned. Outcomes are improving, and pupils now experience an improved curriculum offer. Most pupils behave well, demonstrating respect and engagement. While a small number do not meet the school's high expectations, staff manage this effectively, to ensure that learning is not disrupted. Pupils enjoy an impressive variety of clubs and activities. For example, they participate in residential visits, charity work and social action projects. Pupils also take part in school musical productions. These opportunities allow them to explore and nurture their talents and interests while developing important life skills.

What the school should improve

• On some occasions, teachers do not check pupils' understanding within lessons well enough. This means teachers do not always identify gaps or misconceptions in pupils' learning and this limits the progress that some pupils make through the curriculum. Leaders should ensure that teachers know how to systematically check learning in their subjects so that they can identify pupils who need further help.
• Too many disadvantaged pupils are persistently absent from school. This means that they miss out on learning the important knowledge they need to succeed. The school should ensure that they accurately identify the barriers to good attendance for all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, and work with pupils and their families to overcome these barriers.
• The school's new approach to managing behaviour is not fully embedded. A small number of pupils do not behave well, and are suspended too often. The school should ensure that staff consistently implement the new behaviour policy across the school and work with pupils to help them to manage their own behaviours more appropriately.

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