Islwyn High School

Overview

Senior leaders successfully managed the complex amalgamation of two schools into one site with "minimal disruption to teaching and learning." While the school fosters a "supportive ethos" and delivers "Good" teaching and learning experiences, overall standards, wellbeing, and leadership are judged as "Adequate and needs improvement" due to inconsistent outcomes and attendance issues.

Strengths

• Teachers generally develop "positive working relationships with pupils" and manage behaviour well, benefiting engagement.
• The secondary special resource base delivers "highly effective lessons" that skilfully adapt to meet diverse needs.
• Pupils make "sound progress in developing their literacy, numeracy and ICT skills," supported by strong coordinator arrangements.
• The curriculum offers "worthwhile" opportunities, including the ‘Challenge Champions’ programme and vocational courses.
• Most pupils feel safe, demonstrating "positive behaviour" and respect, contributing to a calm environment.

Areas to improve

• Raise standards, particularly at key stage 4, where performance remains below that of similar schools.
• Improve attendance, which has been below average and negatively impacts specific pupil groups.
• Address safeguarding concerns identified during the inspection and improve the quality of self-evaluation.

Safeguarding

The report explicitly recommends that the school must "Address the safeguarding concerns identified during the inspection."