We are delighted that the latest Ofsted report confirms that Highgate Wood School continues to be good, and improving. The inspectors confirmed our governors and leaders know the school well and this accurate self-evaluation is allowing us to raise standards quickly. They told us teaching is good and improving, as are behaviour and attendance.
The inspecting team were impressed with the effective feedback teachers provide to students that helps them move ahead with their learning; with our work to secure higher standards, especially in the sixth form and with the way our teachers plan lessons well, stretching the most able and targeting our students’ needs with skilful questioning and well-chosen activities. They noted that as a result of our work since the last inspection, students’ performance at GCSE and A Level is good and improving and from their different starting points progress is similar for all groups. They drew particular attention to the way disadvantaged students at Highgate Wood School make progress that exceeds that of other students nationally.
Ofsted inspectors also commented very favourably on our strong culture of safeguarding, which they saw as being built upon a secure foundation of effective training, and praised the way we provide our students with opportunities to think about rights, respect and tolerance for others.
We are especially pleased by the way the overwhelming majority of parents and carers, as well as students and staff, were very positive about their experiences at Highgate Wood School.
The full report is now available on the Ofsted website.