Letter regarding recent Ofsted Visit - Smithdon High School ...

I am delighted that the Ofsted team fully recognised our excellent progress with respect to student
behaviour:
“Inspectors saw behaviour in lessons that was always satisfactory and quite often good …”
Leadership at senior level remains strong in challenging circumstances and at middle leadership
level, the changes we have made have been very effective.
The Governing Body, criticised during the last full inspection, has undergone a transformation, with
effectiveness and innovation being current characteristics.
There is no doubt that Ofsted has ‘raised the bar’ considerably with respect to their judgements of schools. As
a result nearly all the schools recently inspected in our area have been placed in a category requiring
improvement. I am greatly encouraged by the progress that we have made in challenging circumstances, the
determination of the staff to accelerate our improvement, the morale of the whole staff and the reaction of our
students.
I look forward to meeting you on Tuesday 26 June at 6.30pm, when I will have the opportunity to discuss the
latest report with you in more detail.
Yours sincerely
Mr J M Goodchild
Headteacher
SMITHDON HIGH SCHOOL OPEN TO ALL
Smithdon High School will open for all members of the community to view our school at work, with every
opportunity to visit teaching areas, laboratories and workshops and to see first-hand our outstanding ICT
facilities.
No appointment is necessary. We will be pleased to meet potential parents, students, grandparents and
members of the community on the following dates:
Monday 25 June, 9.00am to 10.30am
Tuesday 26 June, 9.00am to 10.30am
Friday 29 June, 9.00am to 10.30am
“Inspectors saw behaviour in lessons that was always satisfactory and quite often good.” (Ofsted June
2012)