Top marks across the board for high school

Mossley Hollins High School

Every student matters and their needs are met at Mossley Hollins High, which Ofsted inspectors described as an outstanding school,

They found all areas of school life — leadership and management, behaviour and safety of pupils, quality of teaching and achievement of pupils — to be outstanding.

Students make outstanding progress and the standards they achieve are very high compared with national figures.

Progress of the most able students in English is exceptionally high but not quite as impressive in maths. Disadvantaged students benefit significantly from attending the Tameside school and generally attain higher standards than other disadvantaged students nationally.

Relationships between staff and students are strong and built on mutual respect and students feel valued and confident.

Parents are overwhelmingly positive about all that the school provides for their children and the head teacher is driven by a determination to improve the life chances of every student.

He has the highest expectations of his staff and students and leads with rigour and humanity.

Inspectors said outstanding leadership at all levels is a hallmark of the school, and the governors are also highly committed, knowing the school well and sharing a wealth of experience, skills and knowledge.

The school’s successes are very much a team effort and pride in Mossley Hollins High is shared by staff, governors, students and their families.

Behaviour is excellent, noted the inspectors. Students get on well together and are courteous and friendly towards one another, staff and visitors.

The work that the school does to keep students safe is exemplary. One of the many strengths of Mossley Hollins is the way it meets the pastoral needs of its students, particularly those who are vulnerable.

To improve further the inspectors recommended that the most able students should make the same exceptional progress in all subjects, particularly maths, as they do in English.

Head teacher Drew Duncan said the inspection came hot on the heels of the news that the school had found out from the Department for Education that the academic performance of its students is among the best in England. The results in 2014 in GCSE English placed it in the top 2 per cent of schools’ nationally.

Mr Duncan said he was “very pleased” with the recognition the school had received from Ofsted and the Department for Education.

“This news confirms the great reports we have received from our parents,” he said.

“As a result of supportive parents, hard-working students, strong student teacher relationships and the dedication of our staff, governors and parents, the school is able to work hard to get the best for all its learners.”