SUMMARY OF THE REPORT INFORMATION
ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Prescot
School is an average-sized comprehensive of 905
pupils, which was granted language college status
in 2000. The school has benefited from a major
building programme that allowed the transfer
fromtwo sites in 1994. It is situated in the
southern part of Knowsley, one of the most
deprived boroughs in the country, a fact borne
out by the number of pupils eligible for free
school meals, which is significantly above the
national average. There has been a significant
increase since 1998 in the number of transfers
from the two main Prescot primary schools, and
the school is part of the LEA Year 5 to 8
transition programme. However, the school draws
pupils from across the borough - currently from
27 different primary schools -and has been
oversubscribed for the last four years. The
number of pupils with special educational needs
is below average, but the number with statements
is average. Most of their needs are associated
with learning and behaviour. Almost all pupils
are of white UK origin and none has English as an
additional language.
This is an
effective school, which provides a good standard
of education for all its pupils, in fulfilment of
its mission statement. Provision for pupils
personal development is good. The granting of
language college status has helped the school to
define its direction and role in the community.
Teaching is satisfactory overall and good in
years 7 to 9, where teachers have higher
expectations of their pupils. When pupils come
into the school in Year 7 their level of
attainment is below average and they make good
progress to reach an average standard by the time
they take the national tests in Year 9. However,
standards at the end of Year 11 have not kept
pace with rising national standards but, given
these pupils below average attainment on
entry to the school, their achievement is
satisfactory.
The school
is well led and the senior management team and
governing body are clear about the direction the
school should take. Day to day management is good
and the school manages its finances prudently.
The school provides satisfactory value for money.
What the
school does well
- Pupils
in years 7 to 9 achieve well because they
are well taught.
- GCSE
results rose in 2002 from well below
average in 2001.
- Teaching
of pupils with special educational needs
by a well-qualified team of specialists
is good. Provision is very good in
modern foreign languages and good in
English, art and history.
- Pupils
develop a sense of maturity and
responsibility through the good support
they receive from staff andby taking part
in extra-curricular activities.
- Attendance
is now good.
- The
school is well led and managed.
- Staff
have good opportunities for development
and newly qualified teachers are
well-supported.What could be improved
- GCSE
results and standards and achievement in
years 10 and 11 especially in
mathematics, numeracy andscience (double
award).
- Assessment
procedures and acting on the results.
- Provision
for and teaching of citizenship.The areas
for improvement will form the basis of
the governors action plan.
The school
has made satisfactory progress since its last
inspection in 1996. The GCSE results remained
much the same until 2002 when they improved
sharply. The impact of the work of the attendance
officerhas resulted in a substantial improvement
in attendance. Teaching has improved. The school
has come along way in its use of information
about pupils performance in order to track
progress.
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