Barlby High School

Overview

Barlby High School is described as an inclusive environment where pupils are "happy and safe" and benefit from "positive relationships" with staff. Leaders have taken "effective action to improve the school" since the last inspection, resulting in an ambitious curriculum and strong support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Strengths

• The curriculum is "ambitious and clearly designed and sequenced," with teachers using a "learning cycle" to help pupils connect new knowledge to prior learning.
• Staff provide "high-quality pastoral care" tailored to individual needs, including effective support for mental health and wellbeing.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported effectively, with staff trained to "overcome barriers to learning" and ensure secure curriculum access.
• There is a "deep sense of community," with pupils valuing responsibilities such as house captains and wellbeing ambassadors.
• Pupils typically pursue "ambitious next steps" in further education, apprenticeships, and training.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure recent curriculum and teaching improvements are "further embedded" so pupils develop "consistently detailed knowledge" across all subjects.
• Staff must follow behaviour policies "consistently" to address instances of "low-level disruption," particularly among older pupils.
• Leaders need to "further develop their work on attendance" to ensure improvements are sustained, as rates remain below the national average.

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are actively identified and managed.