Blacon High School, a Specialist Sports College located in Chester, underwent an inspection on November 28 and 29, 2023, with an additional visit on February 7 and 8, 2024. The overall effectiveness of the school was rated as requiring improvement, reflecting ongoing challenges in the quality of education provided. While the school has made strides in certain areas, significant gaps remain, particularly in curriculum delivery and student attendance.
Pupils generally report feeling happy and safe at school, benefiting from a supportive environment fostered by staff. The school actively supports students facing difficulties in engaging with their education, although attendance rates, while improving, still indicate that some students do not attend as frequently as necessary. The school aims to provide an ambitious curriculum for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. However, historical flaws in curriculum design have resulted in learning gaps for some older students, impacting their preparedness for national examinations.
Behaviour within the school has shown improvement since the last inspection, with effective management processes in place for addressing unacceptable behaviour. Classrooms are typically calm, allowing students to focus on their learning. Many pupils appreciate the variety of extracurricular opportunities available, including mentoring roles and activities like rowing, which enhance their school experience.
The school leadership and governing body possess a clear understanding of the areas needing development. They have successfully implemented a more ambitious curriculum for key stage three and have clarified the knowledge that pupils should acquire. However, inconsistencies in curriculum delivery persist, with some staff lacking the confidence or skills to effectively teach certain subjects. This has hindered some pupils, particularly those with special educational needs, from achieving their full potential.
The school has a high number of pupils with special educational needs and has established effective identification and assessment processes. Support for these pupils is generally well-managed, although weaknesses in curriculum delivery mean that some do not achieve as well as they could. The school has also identified pupils struggling with reading, but support for these students, especially in key stage four, has not been as effective as it should be, partly due to irregular attendance.
The school has recently strengthened its approach to improving attendance, with noticeable positive impacts for younger pupils. However, older students still face challenges in attending regularly, which disrupts their learning and contributes to gaps in their knowledge. The overall atmosphere at the school is calm and orderly, with most pupils demonstrating attentiveness and respect during lessons.
Personal development is supported through an appropriate curriculum that addresses relevant topics for pupils. Staff are trained to deliver personal, social, health, and economic education, preparing students for life in modern society. The school also provides guidance on career and further education opportunities, encouraging pupils to aspire to their next steps.
While staff generally feel consulted about new initiatives, the school must continue to balance staff well-being with the necessary improvements in educational quality. The leadership has taken decisive action since the previous inspection, but there are areas where the school does not effectively evaluate the impact of its initiatives. This lack of thorough evaluation can hinder the prioritization of strategies that drive meaningful improvements in education quality. Overall, while Blacon High School has made progress, it must address these challenges to enhance the educational experience for all its pupils.
