Ofsted conducted a no formal designation inspection at Highlands School on July 13 and 14, 2021, to assess the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements following concerns raised with the agency. The inspection focused solely on safeguarding and did not evaluate other aspects of the school's performance. The findings indicate that safeguarding is effective at the school.
Highlands School is a larger than average secondary school with 1,563 pupils aged 11 to 19. The school serves a diverse student body, with a lower than average proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language and those eligible for free school meals. The leadership team has seen some turnover in recent years, with many members joining within the last two years. The school has maintained a low staff turnover and has not faced significant recruitment challenges.
The inspection revealed that the school has established an executive safeguarding team with clear roles and responsibilities. This team has a high profile within the school, ensuring that safeguarding concerns are addressed promptly. Staff are trained to recognize warning signs of potential harm, and there are effective links with external agencies, facilitating rapid referrals when necessary. The school has implemented robust record-keeping practices for child protection, and leaders regularly monitor pupil attendance and well-being.
The report highlighted an increase in mental health issues among pupils, particularly anxiety and depression, during the current academic year. In response, the school has developed a mental health action plan and a suicide prevention strategy, ensuring that staff are trained to identify early signs of mental health concerns. The school has also improved its personal, social, health, and economic education curriculum, emphasizing anti-bullying and the harmful effects of discriminatory language. This has contributed to a positive change in school culture, with a notable reduction in incidents of bullying and fixed-term exclusions.
Governors play an active role in safeguarding, holding the leadership team accountable for pupil welfare and scrutinizing safeguarding records. They regularly discuss safeguarding and mental health at governing body meetings, ensuring these issues remain a priority.
The local authority has also conducted a review of the school's safeguarding practices, providing additional training for staff responsible for safeguarding. This collaboration has further strengthened the school's safeguarding culture.
The inspection concluded that while safeguarding is effective, the school should continue to implement its mental health action plan fully and sustain improvements in supporting pupils' mental health and well-being. The next inspection is expected to be a full section 5 inspection, which will evaluate a broader range of the school's performance, including overall effectiveness. The findings from this inspection will be shared with relevant stakeholders, including the governing body and local authority, and will be published on the Ofsted reports website.
