Highams Park School

Overview

Highams Park School is described as having a “warm and friendly atmosphere” where pupils are “well-cared for by dedicated staff.” The report highlights that new leadership has driven “positive changes in behaviour,” resulting in lessons that are “typically calm and focused.” While the sixth form is noted as a “key strength” with students achieving “very well,” inconsistencies in assessment and engagement remain in earlier years.

Strengths

• The sixth form provision is “Outstanding,” with students showing “diligence and commitment” and benefiting from extensive opportunities for adulthood and further study.
• Behaviour has improved significantly, with pupils being “very clear about the rules” and staff welcoming the new system.
• The curriculum is “well-sequenced and ambitious,” including for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), allowing for a choice of academic, technical, and vocational courses.
• Reading is a priority, with a new programme supporting “greater fluency and accuracy” that has had a “very positive” impact so far.
• Leaders have established a “robust system” to address poor attendance, leading to measurable improvements.

Areas to improve

• Teachers in key stages 3 and 4 do not always routinely check pupil understanding, meaning “errors and misconceptions are missed.”
• The quality of work in pupils’ books is “variable” because expectations are not always clearly set or consistently followed.
• Staff do not consistently identify and support a small proportion of pupils who are “disinterested in learning” and have poor attitudes.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”