Silverdale School was inspected by Ofsted on 6 and 7 October 2022. Our overall effectiveness was judged to be ‘Good’ with the following category ratings:

Quality of education:	Good
Behaviour and attitudes:	Good
Personal development:	Good
Leadership and management:	Good
Sixth form provision:	Outstanding

Please be aware that there is significant variation to the approach OFSTED teams have taken to make their judgements over recent years. Therefore, caution should be applied when comparing the single word inspection outcomes of different schools. 

Many positive areas were highlighted by the inspection team:

Outstanding achievement for all

'Outstanding achievement for all' is our guiding principle. Our students' results - consistently some of the best in Sheffield and the North - show that our approach to learning and the "broad and varied" curriculum is helping us to achieve this. The Ofsted report highlights how our approach to learning and the curriculum helps us to achieve this for all:

• "In lessons, teachers’ plans and adaptations ensure that all pupils can access the curriculum." 
• "Staff identify struggling readers quickly and a range of different strategies are used to help pupils develop the reading skills they need."

'Outstanding achievement for all' is applied to the personal development of our students as well as their academic progress. Our extra-curricular clubs and activities were highlighted:

• "There are a broad range of extra-curricular clubs. When inspectors visited, pupils were enjoying dance, choir, soul band and netball. These clubs are well attended."

Additionally, we have been actively engaged for some time in ensuring that students of all backgrounds take advantage of the opportunities on offer and are already seeing a significant impact of this continuing focus.

Respect and focus

We are proud that our school is a place of respect and harmony. This reflects in the good behaviour and engagement of our students.

• "Pupils' behaviour in lessons is purposeful. They are focused because they trust their teachers and are interested in their learning."
• "In Year 7, pupils already feel like they belong at the school. Older pupils help them, for example, by escorting them to lessons if they are lost."
• "In lessons, pupils are focused. Pupils told inspectors that when disruption to lessons does occur, teachers deal with it quickly."

Celebrating our community

Silverdale School benefits from the vibrant range of cultures, outlooks and personalities within our school. Our curriculum and wider planning ensure that all of our students each receive a foundation that will enable them to flourish in the community in which they live.

• "Leaders' focus on diversity across the school is understood by pupils. For example, initiatives such as 'This is me' day help to create a safe and purposeful environment for pupils where differences are celebrated."
• "There is aspiration among leaders for all pupils to be ready for their next steps. For example, leaders are aware of the opportunities for medical and engineering employment in the local area. They ensure that the curriculum prepares pupils to enter these professions if they wish."

Aspirational for all

We are fiercely aspirational for all of our students. Our students achieve strongly across all groups, for example, disadvantaged students at Silverdale on average achieve half a grade higher than national average.

• "Leaders are ambitious for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)."
• "The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) and the leader of the integrated resource for pupils with a hearing impairment provide clear information to teachers. This means that teachers confidently adapt lessons to involve all pupils."

Outstanding Sixth Form

We are delighted that Silverdale Sixth Form was judged to be outstanding. Examples of why Ofsted agreed with us in this area include:

• "Leaders in sixth form encourage students to have high aspirations which leaders' actions help them to meet."
• "Students in the sixth form support each other and display extremely positive attitudes to learning."
• "Leaders' support for students in the sixth form continues after they leave Silverdale. For example, students embarking on a gap year have offers of help available to assist them with university applications upon their return."

Next steps

The Ofsted inspection provides just two areas in which improvements are suggested:

• The Ofsted inspection team identified a couple of examples of rules not being applied consistently during social times. Equality and fairness are very important at Silverdale and we have made significant progress in ‘The Silverdale Way’ to ensure our expectations are explicit.
• It is noted that "Leaders should ensure that all staff know how their subjects and lessons form part of the overall approach to assessment at key stage 3". We work hard to ensure that students' knowledge and understanding is checked regularly in lessons through responsive teaching and planned milestone assessments. We have developed a whole-school overview of collating how students are making progress across the range of subjects in key stage 3 to assist staff, student and parental understanding of the students’ attainment and progress in each subject.

The full report is available to download below and is also available on the Ofsted website.

 

Parent View

Ofsted Parent View is a website where you can tell Ofsted what you think of your child's school, including:

• How happy your child is at the school.
• How the school manages bullying or challenging behaviour.
• If your child has special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) you will be asked how well the school support them.

The questionnaire can be completed at any time - you don’t have to wait until the school is being inspected. 

You can find out more at the Parent View website.