Ofsted Inspection, 27-29 June 2023                                                                                          

We are proud that Poynton High School continues to be a good school.

It was our great pleasure to welcome Ofsted inspectors to our school on 27 June 2023.  This was a rigorous inspection, over three days, and conducted by a team, including two of His Majesty’s Inspectors (HMIs).  As part of the inspection, they spoke to many students, governors and staff, observed lessons, form and social time, visited off-site provision and made use of student, parent and staff surveys.

I was delighted that inspectors confirmed that we continue to be ‘a good school’.  The report celebrates the many achievements of our school and reflects the pride that I have in the staff, students and community of Poynton High School. 

Inspectors praised our ‘high aspirations for the achievement of pupils and students in the sixth form’.  They recognised that ‘leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum which explicitly builds on pupils’ previous learning.  They have organised the curriculum well to enable pupils to develop an increasingly broad and sophisticated body of knowledge from Year 7 to Year 13’.  As a result they recognised that students achieve highly.

I am proud of our students’ conduct, and pleased that inspectors commented that ‘pupils typically behave well and aspire to live up to the clear behaviour and conduct expectations that are outlined in the student charter. This promotes values of mutual kindness, tolerance and respect, which permeate the school.’  The inspectors were very complimentary about how mature and articulate they found the many students they engaged with during the inspection.

Inspectors also commented on how students ‘benefit from a well-considered programme to support their wider personal development’ and that ‘pupils’ learning is enhanced through the wide range of opportunities and experiences that are on offer to them’. That was also the case with careers guidance where they noted ‘a rich programme of experiences both within and beyond the taught curriculum’.

Support for reading has been a big focus in recent years and we are pleased that inspectors commented that ‘expert staff support … pupils to catch up with their peers.  Leaders have ambitious plans to help all pupils to maintain a love of reading’.

The report also comments positively on many other aspects of school:

• ‘Teachers are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the subjects that they teach’
• Leaders ‘are tenacious in securing the help that pupils and their families need’
• ‘Students in the sixth form enjoy acting as leaders and mentors for younger pupils’
• ‘Pupils enjoy participating in a wide array of clubs’
• ‘In the sixth form, teachers deliver subject curriculums which are aspirational and meet the needs of pupils well’.

I was grateful for all the parents who contributed to the parent survey. The lead inspector commented on how many of our parents had taken the time to make written comments in response and this informed the lines of enquiry in the inspection.

I was pleased that Ofsted’s judgement matched our own evaluations and I look forward to continuing the improvement of our school.

I hope that you enjoy reading our Ofsted report and thank you for your continued support of our school.

Matthew Dean
Head Teacher

You are able to navigate directly to our published Inspection report, my letter to parents below and also an Ofsted Guide for Parents.

All Ofsted Reports on our school

Below you will find a link to the Ofsted Parent View Questionnaire.

https://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk/

Below you will find a link to the Ofsted Guide for Parents.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-inspections-a-guide-for-parents