Standards are improving at Sowerby Bridge High School, which Ofsted inspectors say provides a satisfactory education for 11 to 16-year-olds – but the efficiency and effectiveness of the sixth form is inadequate.

Head teacher Kate Wood said: "The school has identified areas for development and is implementing changes to address these. The sixth form is our key priority for development and we are confident that we will make a difference.

Pupils in our sixth form during the next few years will benefit from the focus in making this a strength of the school.

"We are proud that Ofsted noted that initiatives we are putting into place are having a positive impact on the education of our pupils."
Inspector Josephine Nowacki said: "The care and support provided for all students are strengths of the school.

"Staff at the school work hard to provide a calm and welcoming environment in which students say they feel safe."

Her report said that although students are loyal to the sixth form and speak positively about their teachers and the support they receive, the inspectors found that achievement at this level is unsatisfactory.

Standards have improved but are well below the national average.

The inspector said to improve further the school must increase the amount of good teaching to raise standards, especially in English, become more consistent in the setting of targets and the giving of advice, and improve achievement in the sixth form.

The school has held specialist status in maths and computing since 2006 and is the only school in Calderdale with specialist provision for students with autistic spectrum disorder and hearing impairment. These students get good support.

Standards are average and achievement in Key Stage 3 is improving. There are rising numbers of students achieving five or more GCSE passes at grade C and above.


Click here for the full Ofsted report