Hetton School

Introduction
Thank you for your interest in Hetton School. I have been in post as Headteacher since September 2010 and it is a privilege to work with our well presented, polite and co-operative students and such a committed and professional staff. The school has a well-founded reputation and a long history with its predecessor school opening in 1912. We are part of a caring community and a school that supports and guides students well with their personal development and well-being. There is a high level of satisfaction from parents. The opportunities for extra-curricular activities are vast.

Ofsted
The last full Ofsted inspection in 2009 stated that:

• “Hetton is a good school with a number of strengths, especially in the care, guidance and support it provides for its students”
• “The majority of teaching is good”
• “The quality of leadership and management is good”
• “Students’ personal development and well-being, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development are good”
• “Teaching and learning are good”
• “Good relationships in nearly all classes create a secure and positive climate for learning”
• “The quality of care, guidance and support is good”
• “The school is quick to identify individuals or groups of students who need extra support and help”
• “Middle managers lead and manage their subject and/or pastoral areas effectively”
• “The school has good capacity to improve further”

Leadership & Organisation
The school is led by the Headteacher under the guidance of a supportive Governing Body. Also included in the Senior Leadership team are a Deputy Headteacher and three Assistant Headteachers as well as a School Business Manager. Each has their own areas of responsibility. There is also an Extended Leadership Team of 5 that have additional whole-school responsibilities. At middle leadership level, there are 3 Heads of House and 12 Subject Leaders. We have a well established Student Council as well as Y11 Prefects and Head Boy and Girl.

School Improvement Action Plan
There is a clear and concise School Improvement Action Plan focusing on three main areas: Raising Achievement for all; Raising standards in teaching and learning; and developing Leadership across the school.  All subject and area plans as well as performance management link to these areas. In turn, these link to the newly announced Ofsted areas of focus.

The school is currently undergoing a significant period of change. New improved systems are now in place with reference to

• Improving teaching and learning
• Monitoring and target setting
• Self Evaluation and Improvement Planning
• Curriculum at KS3 and KS4
• Leadership development

 

Raising Achievement
The school has historically gained headline results that broadly match national averages. In 2010 the headline results were as follows:

However, there remain significant areas of underachievement and this is a key focus for the school this year.

Pastoral Care and Inclusion
We operate an effective House system and have clear systems for pastoral care and behaviour. Each Head of House leads a team of Form Tutors. We have a strong team led by the SENCO which includes 2 Mentors, 2 HLTAs and 4 LSAs. We have ICE (Inclusion Centre for Education) for students who need temporary support with their learning and a separate Inclusion Room to support the small number of students who exhibit poor behaviour. We also have a developing specialist Language Provision lead by a teacher and supported by an LSA for those students who have speech, language and communication difficulties. Transition work from Primary to Secondary is excellent. We have effective Information Advice and Guidance programmes, have a strong partnership with Connexions and participate fully in the Aim Higher scheme.

Curriculum Development
The curriculum is currently under review. From 2011 there will be a revised curriculum that will be redesigned to ensure we match the curriculum to individual learners needs, that there are clear progression pathways, that there is flexibility and broader options and that it more readily meets the local employment needs.

Continuing Professional Development
Our CPD provision is developing well. Led by the Deputy Head we will ensure that it is relevant both to the needs of the school and compliant with the School Improvement Action Plan as well as personalised to the need of the individual. We take CPD extremely seriously and see it as the bedrock to school improvement. Developing leadership at all levels is our aim.

Premises and Resources
Hetton School was well progressed with the BSF process when the new Coalition Government halted many projects including Hetton. It is widely agreed that we were the priority secondary school in Sunderland in most need of a re-build. However, we work with what we have and all learning spaces are of a good standard. An ongoing investment programme of refurbishment will continue and indeed step up a pace now that we have the certainty of continuity in existing premises.

Mr Phil Keay
Headteacher
February 2010