Final Ofsted Report - Longbenton High School rated 'Good' - September 2022
I am delighted to announce that the result of our June 2022 Ofsted inspection is an improvement in our overall school rating from ‘Requires Improvement’ to ‘Good’. Since I began here as headteacher in September 2020, I have been determined to ensure that this was the outcome. I am incredibly proud of what staff and students have achieved in such a short space of time to make this ambition a reality.
I am particularly pleased inspectors acknowledged that:
-
The school has been transformed under new leadership; as a result this is a much “improved” school
-
We have high ambition for students and an “ambitious” curriculum
-
Behaviour is “calm and purposeful” and students have “positive attitudes to learning”
-
Disruption to learning is rare but if it does take place, it relates only to a “minority”
-
We are a “caring school” who “knows its pupils well”; students “feel safe” here
-
Those with SEND “make strong progress”
-
Personal development is a real strength which “supports pupils to become confident young people”
-
Staff professional development is very strong; staff enjoy working here
-
We successfully delivered learning during the pandemic
This report is a crucial step in our school improvement journey and it of course does not stop here. We are as determined as ever to ensure the success of all of our students and to be the first choice secondary school in the area.
Finally, it remains to say that we could not have made these improvements without your parental support and loyalty, particularly throughout lockdowns, school closure and the pandemic. Thank you for your faith in me and my team. I am very happy that this Ofsted report validates what many of you already know (and what our Summer 2022 exam results also show): we are a brilliant school and caring about our students is at the forefront of all we do.
Kelly Holbrook
Headteacher