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Ambitious high school on road to excellence
AN AMBITIOUS Sheffield secondary is on the up, according to inspectors who found good standards throughout the school.
Parkwood High at Shirecliffe is currently exploring the possibility of becoming the city's third City Academy, with parental consultations under way.
Headteacher Chris Mallaband said the positive findings in the report had come just at the right time for the school.
"We are all over the moon at this report. We have been working so hard over the last two years and this report recognises the amazing changes that we have seen in achievement, attitude to learning and the enthusiasm of students," he said.
"It validates everything that we have been doing and tells us very clearly to keep innovating, encouraging and taking risks."
Inspectors were impressed with the pupils' commitment to success through hard work, and also paid tribute to the support from parents and carers who were keen to support their children's learning.
Parkwood was seen as the centre of the community, and excellent links with businesses and leisure groups meant the young people were well prepared for the world of work.
There were still some concerns expressed about behaviour, but everyone agreed the situation had improved dramatically over the past two years.
Only in a minority of lessons where teaching was mundane or unchallenging did unacceptable behaviour creep in, hindering learning.
Bullying was also on the wane, but there was a small minority of pupils who did not live up to the school's high expectations over attendance.
But teaching standards were improving rapidly with considerable changes to the curriculum meaning every student was given the chance to achieve well.
A greater emphasis on work-related subjects had as a result led to greatly improved results by GCSE students during 2007.
Mr Mallaband added: "I am particularly pleased that the report recognises the contributions made by parents to the success of the young people and most of all I am pleased that the young people themselves were thought of so highly by the inspectors.
"I am very lucky here at Parkwood - I have a team of superb staff and a wonderful group of young people."
Sheffield Brightside MP David Blunkett, whose constituency covers Parkwood High, said the report was another enormous stride on the road to excellence for Parkwood High.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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