Haverstock School is good and improving fast, says Ofsted

Date:   26th January 2012

Inspectors have hailed significant improvements at Haverstock School, with the school being rated ‘good’ with outstanding features.

The very positive report follows excellent increases in the proportion of students gaining five or more A* to C grades at GCSE, including English and maths.

Ofsted, which visited the school in December, also said the school has ‘good’ capacity to improve and praised the ‘inspirational leadership’ of head John Dowd as well as the ‘outstanding’ care, guidance and support for students.

The report’s main findings on the school, based in Haverstock Hill, Chalk Farm, are:

* “Haverstock is a good school, where attainment is rising quickly and students make good progress.”
* “The quality of teaching is good and an increasing proportion of lessons are outstanding.”
* “The curriculum is broad, balanced and carefully tailored to meet students’ diverse and challenging needs.”
* “Outstanding care, guidance and support contribute greatly to students’ security, enjoyment and achievement.”
* “Attendance is above average and behaviour is good.”
* “Students’ artistic, sporting, cultural, moral and spiritual development is outstanding.”
* “Students enjoy school and feel extremely safe.”
* “Students are actively involved in a wide range of community activities. The school has established outstanding partnerships.”
* “The headteacher provides inspirational leadership.”
* “The governing body has made an outstanding contribution to the improvements that the school has made.”

Headteacher John Dowd, who has led the school for 12 years, said: “I think this report captures what we do well at Haverstock. We have a mandate to become a truly excellent school in every sense and an outstanding Ofsted judgement is within our grasp. Our number one priority is to continue to raise attainment and build on the significant improvements in teaching and learning.

“Inspectors praised our engagement with parents and extensive partnerships in the community, so thank you to parents for their support and responding to the Ofsted survey. Thanks also to staff, students and governors for their hard work and commitment, which has been recognised in this extremely positive report.”

Laura Watkins, the school's Chair of Governors, said: "This justifiably strong report shows how the school has transformed and is providing consistently good education and support to students, whose achievement is rapidly improving. It also says what we still need to do to achieve our high ambitions - and we are already working on putting these changes into practice.

"The inspectors were particularly impressed with our business and enterprise activities, which help students prepare for the world of work. We are grateful to the many businesses who work closely with us, such as GE, Olswang, McKinsey and Santander.

"The inspectors were also positive about how we help students’ transition into secondary school. We value our excellent partnerships with local primary schools, which help new year 7s prepare, settle in and progress academically from their first day at Haverstock.

"I am also optimistic that Camden's Education Commission will benefit our students.

"Governors are very grateful to John Dowd, the school leadership team and all staff for their relentless work in keeping the school and its students moving forward." 

Councillor Larraine Revah, Camden Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, said: “Congratulations to Haverstock School for receiving such a ringing endorsement from Ofsted for its improvements in exam results and outstanding support for students. The school has everything in place to achieve even more in line with our ambition for every school in Camden to become good or outstanding.”

To read the full report visit www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports

Ref Code:   PR 1570
Contact:
    

pressoffice@camden.gov.uk