15 Mar Chase High School celebrates favourable Ofsted rating
For the first time in its 15-year history, Chase High School has been declared Good by Ofsted.
A team of inspectors visited Chase High, in Westcliff, in February and found every aspect of the school – the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision – to be Good.
The school was previously graded Inadequate and Requires Improvement, with student outcomes “well below average”, too many absences and “poor teaching” at the last inspection in March 2018.
The school, which opened in 2006 and now caters for more than 1,100 students aged 11 to 18, is enjoying a turnaround in its fortunes with new headteacher Jamie Foster at the helm, along with a strengthened team of leaders and teachers.
Among their praise, inspectors said of their findings of the school today –
• “Pupils are very proud of their school. They want to tell others about how much their school has improved.”
• “Pupils say they feel happy and safe.”
• “Pupils behave well.”
• “Lessons are calm and orderly.”
• “Pupils say bullying is rare and when it happens, teachers deal with it swiftly.”
• “The school prepares pupils well for the future.”
• “Pupils are open minded and celebrate diversity and difference.”
Of the staff, inspectors said leaders have high expectations for students’ achievement; leaders are vigilant about keeping children safe; and teachers have strong subject knowledge.
Mr Foster, who arrived as deputy headteacher in 2015 after the school had been graded Inadequate and became headteacher in September 2020, put in place an ambitious and inspirational curriculum on his arrival.
He said: “Over the last two years, the staff and students have worked so hard for each other and are immensely proud to be part of the Chase High community. We have a relentless focus on high quality teaching and learning and all staff have a strong sense of moral purpose to do the very best for our students.
“Every child in Southend deserves to attend a Good school and this is recognition that Chase High is a good school which continues to move from strength to strength.”
