Ofsted: Good school that continues to make progress
On the 19th March 2012 the school received notice from Ofsted (see below) that Sheringham High continues to do well. As a consequence Ofsted has deferred the school’s next inspection until at least the summer of 2013.
Letter to parents from Ofsted
Dear Parent
Sheringham High School and Sixth Form Centre: Ofsted’s interim assessment
I am pleased to provide some important information about Sheringham High School and Sixth Form Centre.
As you may know, during its last inspection in January 2009, Ofsted inspectors judged your child’s school to be good. Schools which are performing well are now inspected less often than other schools. This usually means that good schools are inspected once in five years, whilst satisfactory schools will be inspected at least once every three years.
Some good schools are inspected after three years; others may have their inspections put back. To help decide whether we can wait longer than three years before undertaking a full inspection of a good school, Her Majesty’s Inspectors look at, and evaluate, various sources of information, as listed below. This is called an ‘interim assessment’.
The results of the interim assessment
In carrying out the interim assessment, we considered the following:
- pupils’ attainment, including the attainment of significant groups of pupils with a focus on disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs, and pupils’ attainment in core subjects
- pupils’ progress, including the progress made by different groups of pupils
- pupils’ attendance
- any inspection visits carried out by Ofsted since the last routine inspection
- qualifying complaints about the school referred to Ofsted by parents or carers
- results from Parent View
- any other significant issues brought to Ofsted’s attention, including from the relevant local authority.
I am pleased to inform you that our interim assessment shows that the school’s performance has been sustained and that we can defer its next full inspection.
As a result, the next full inspection will not take place any earlier than the summer term 2013 unless we receive information in the course of the coming year that causes us to inspect earlier.
I wish everyone involved in the school continued success in the future.
Yours sincerely
Susan Gregory HMI
National Director Delivery
Do you want to play a part in a good high school and help transform lives through learning?
SCHOOL GOVERNOR
The governing body of this successful school are looking to appoint a governor with extensive business experience to help the school improve further and continue to be a centre of educational excellence in North Norfolk. In November the school acquired Academy status.
Are you such a person? If so, we’d be delighted to hear from you by the end of April. For further information please contact the Headteacher at the school.
School becomes an Academy
On 1st November 2011 Sheringham High School became an Academy. In a letter to the school confirming the Government's agreement to the move, Education Secretary Michael Gove wrote: “I am delighted that Sheringham High School recognises the benefits Academy status will bring. Your Academy will now have the opportunity to use the freedoms and flexibilities of Academy status, to share best practice and work with others to bring about sustained improvements to all schools in the area. I would like to thank you for your commitment and wish you every success in the future.”
Mrs Gill Baker, Chair of Governors, congratulated the school on its achievement: “The move to Academy Status is a just reward for the achievements of students and staff at the school. 2011 saw 72% of students gaining 5 or more A*-C grades including English and Mathematics at GCSE. This ranks the school 4th out of 51 Norfolk high schools.
Sixth Form students went to some of the top UK universities including Bristol, Imperial College and, for the second year running, Cambridge. As an Academy our aim is to become an even better school and continue to be a centre of educational excellence in North Norfolk.”
2011 - EXCELLENT GCSE RESULTS BREAKS RECORD AGAIN
EXAM SUCCESS
For the second year running the school has recorded its best ever set of GCSE results. 84% of students achieved 5 or more A*-C grades at GCSE (up 11%) and 72% achieved the so called ‘gold standard’ of 5 or more A*-C grades including English and Mathematics (up 7%).
Tim Roderick, Headteacher, said “Results Day was obviously a very happy occasion and it was wonderful to see a photograph of our students celebrating their success on the front page of the Eastern Daily Press Exams Supplement.
It was always going to be a challenge to surpass last year’s grades but our students have done so. These are an outstanding set of results for a comprehensive school. I am delighted that all of our students’ hard work has come to fruition.
Students did very well across the board but the stand-out results were in English where a stunning 95% of students achieved A*-C grades.
To put these results in context, the percentage of students gaining 5 or more A*-C grades including English and Mathematics (72%) ranks the school 4th out of the 51 Norfolk high schools.
This is a tremendous achievement for which students, staff, parents and the wider community can be justly proud”.
At A-level there was another very pleasing set of results. The vast majority of students achieved their target grades and will be going to study at their first choice university.
Tim Roderick, Headteacher, said “As a small and successful sixth form we are elated that some of our students are off to some of the top UK universities including Bristol and Imperial College. For the second year running we have a student, Adam Beasy, going to Cambridge University where he will read Law.
There have been other outstanding individual performances and we are delighted that 43% of students achieved A* to B grades. As with our GCSE students are very proud of our young people and what they have achieved”.
