Stockbridge’s Test Valley School “good” in nearly all categories (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Stockbridge’s Test Valley School “good” in nearly all categories

11:40am Friday 29th January 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

Read Test Valley School Ofsted report

A ‘good’ Ofsted report sees pupils aiming high OFSTED bosses have rated Stockbridge’s Test Valley School “good” in nearly all categories of the inspection report.

The inspection team says Test Valley is a “good school”, making “confident strides” forward and reported the head teacher Louisa Hiscock who took over in September is “building on its many strengths” while creating fresh impetus for change.

The report also says the head teacher is well supported by senior members of her team.

“She has introduced a number of measures designed to adopt a systematic approach to monitoring the school’s work.

“Her vision to bring out the best in all students has inspired a determination amongst all staff to bring this about.

“The impact of these initiatives is already evident in the improving quality of teaching and more vigorous approach to target-setting and improvement planning,” say the Ofsted reort.

Looking at teaching aspects at the school, Ofsted says it is “good” and is “improving” as teachers’ ambitions for their students are raised.

“Good teaching enables students to aim high and make good progress through planning tasks well matched to their individual abilities.

“However, students do make consistently good progress in all subjects and there is more to be done to ensure that good practice is shared more widely and that teachers plan work to extend students’ thinking – particularly the more able,” say the inspectors.

Pointing out one area for further improvement, the report says the school needs to “ensure all students, especially the more able girls, make more consistently good progress and improve the proportion of students achieving A* and A grades at GCSE exams.”

The report outlines several points where this can be achieved and the school says it has already identified these priorities and strategies are already being put in hand to address them.

Head teacher Miss Hiscock said she was looking forward to the challenges ahead.

“We are proud of how far we have come in a short period of time and are not complacent about the challenges ahead.

“The inspection has provided an excellent platform for us to take the school forward and I am confident we will continue to improve in order to secure a judgement of ‘outstanding’ next time round.”

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)