Thornhill College

Overview

This Sustaining Improvement Inspection evaluated Thornhill College’s capacity for self-evaluation and development planning. Due to industrial action involving non-cooperation with inspectors, the ETI was unable to fully evaluate the impact of improvement work on teaching and learning. Consequently, the report states the ETI is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education provided for the pupils.”

Strengths

• The senior leadership team implemented “strategic and targeted improvement work” focused on the “effective use of data to meet effectively the individual needs of the pupils.”
• Pupils continue to achieve “very high outcomes in public examinations at key stage 4 and post-16.”
• Data is used effectively to inform self-evaluation, benchmarking, and monitoring, with a tracker system developed across key stages.
• The school has prioritised ICT to “enliven teaching and learning,” appointing a senior teacher to lead E-Learning and delivering professional development.
• Pupils spoke positively about their “active involvement in digital literacy activities” and expressed appreciation for the “pastoral and academic support” from “approachable and caring staff.”

Areas to improve

• The report notes that the impact of ICT work is “at an early stage of development” and requires further monitoring and evaluation.
• The school must continue to improve the “effective use of data to meet more effectively the individual needs, targets and aspirations of all the pupils.”

Safeguarding

The school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education,” and pupils reported feeling safe, though the ETI was unable to fully evaluate the outworking of these arrangements due to industrial action.