Highbury Fields Secondary School is providing ‘effective teaching’ with some ‘outstanding’ lessons according to Ofsted inspectors.
The girls’ school - which is also part of the Islington Sixth Form Consortium - was rated as ‘good’ overall in its latest Ofsted inspection report. Inspectors felt that students achieve well due to the high quality of teaching and the well-structured lessons. Progress in English is consistently strong and ‘outstanding progress’ is made in mathematics.
Students at Highbury Fields ‘enjoy school and have good attitudes to learning.’ This impacts on their behaviour, which was noted to be good, both in lessons and around the school building in general. The school is a ‘diverse community’ where ‘students from different backgrounds get on very well together.’ Students told inspectors that they feel safe at the school.
Julia Hodson was acting head of Highbury Fields at the time of inspection and was judged by Ofsted to be ‘providing clear direction and effective leadership’ for students and staff. Julia said:
"Staff and governors are delighted that Ofsted acknowledged our considerable strengths. We are also pleased that the inspectors recognised the good developments in the sixth form with ‘extensive support’ for the pupils. With the appointment of our new headteacher, Gladys Berry, we are now in a strong position to quickly become an outstanding school and sixth form."
Ofsted praised the contributions that students at Highbury Fields make to the school and local community. Numerous fundraising events are organised to raise money for charity and the school’s status as a specialist science college has helped them to develop successful sustainable development projects. Their Climate Change and Me event successfully attracted the local community to workshops, lectures and films focussed on recycling and energy conservation. Pupils are now working on a major project to improve the school environment and make it more sustainable.
Director of Children's Services at Islington Council, Eleanor Schooling said:
“Well done to students, staff and Governors at Highbury Fields for this positive feedback. It's an exciting time for the school with new headteacher Gladys Berry now in place and I'm sure that under her leadership, the school and sixth form will continue to improve even further."
ENDS.
Page Last Updated: 12 June 2009