Blackpool school visited by Ofsted as part of national Covid scheme to see how teachers and pupils are coping

It's usually a fraught time for teachers when inspectors turn up on the doorstep.
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But Ofsted's trip to Highfield Leadership Academy, in Highfield Road, South Shore, was different this time around.

No judgement was handed out, nor were lessons watched or pupils' work examined.

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That's because the education watchdog was visiting as part of a national programme to see how teachers and pupils are coping with being back in the classroom after such a long break, rather than for a routine inspection.

Highfield Leadership Academy, pictured before the pandemicHighfield Leadership Academy, pictured before the pandemic
Highfield Leadership Academy, pictured before the pandemic

Most youngsters were off from March until September because of the pandemic, and arrived back to new routines and anti-Covid measures.

Ofsted inspector David Selby, who visited Highfield alongside his colleague Rachel Goodwin, said in a letter to headteacher Andrew Galbraith they did "not find any significant concerns during the visit", which involved talking to senior staff members.

Attendance is actually up compared to the same time last year, with children studying their usual range of subjects, though some are being taught in a different order, his letter said.

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Teachers are using quizzes and tests to spot where pupils need to brush up on their knowledge, and there's an increased focus on reading and basic maths skills in years seven, eight, and nine.

Creative subjects like art and drama are being taught differently for those in year nine, while those in years nine, 10 and 11 are following their GCSE courses as normal.

Mr Selby told Mr Galbraith: "You have designed a programme of remote learning that closely matches the work taught in school in all subjects.

"You are already using this so that pupils who are absent can keep up with their work.

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"If groups of pupils must be away from school, you intend for them to work on their normal timetable but to switch to the remote learning."

Ofsted said it was visiting schools across all its grades - outstanding, good, requires improvement, and inadequate - though the second lockdown means video calls are now being held instead.

Highfield was put in special measures and branded inadequate after a damning report in December 2018.

But, last summer, Mr Galbraith, who was brought in to steady the ship, was told he and his staff were "taking effective action" with an improvement plan "fit for purpose".

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Routine inspections were suspended until January 2021 due to the Covid crisis, however, with last month's trip to Highfield ending without a fresh rating.

Mr Galbraith said the school, which was shortlisted for a gong at the Tes Schools Awards on Friday, is "very much ready" for a full inspection.

He said attendance is up 4.1 per cent since last year to 95 per cent, which he said shows pupils "feel safe" with the anti-virus measures in place, while behaviour and standards are "remarkably improved".

"I'm really proud of the students and parents who stood with us and supported the school," Mr Galbraith said.

"I'm also proud of the staff as well."

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