SUMMARY OF THE REPORT INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL

Prescot School is an average-sized comprehensive of 905 pupils, which was granted language college status in 2000. The school has benefited from a major building programme that allowed the transfer fromtwo sites in 1994. It is situated in the southern part of Knowsley, one of the most deprived boroughs in the country, a fact borne out by the number of pupils eligible for free school meals, which is significantly above the national average. There has been a significant increase since 1998 in the number of transfers from the two main Prescot primary schools, and the school is part of the LEA Year 5 to 8 transition programme. However, the school draws pupils from across the borough - currently from 27 different primary schools -and has been oversubscribed for the last four years. The number of pupils with special educational needs is below average, but the number with statements is average. Most of their needs are associated with learning and behaviour. Almost all pupils are of white UK origin and none has English as an additional language.

This is an effective school, which provides a good standard of education for all its pupils, in fulfilment of its mission statement. Provision for pupils’ personal development is good. The granting of language college status has helped the school to define its direction and role in the community. Teaching is satisfactory overall and good in years 7 to 9, where teachers have higher expectations of their pupils. When pupils come into the school in Year 7 their level of attainment is below average and they make good progress to reach an average standard by the time they take the national tests in Year 9. However, standards at the end of Year 11 have not kept pace with rising national standards but, given these pupils’ below average attainment on entry to the school, their achievement is satisfactory.

The school is well led and the senior management team and governing body are clear about the direction the school should take. Day to day management is good and the school manages its finances prudently. The school provides satisfactory value for money.

What the school does well

• Pupils in years 7 to 9 achieve well because they are well taught.
• GCSE results rose in 2002 from well below average in 2001.
• Teaching of pupils with special educational needs by a well-qualified team of specialists is good.• Provision is very good in modern foreign languages and good in English, art and history.
• Pupils develop a sense of maturity and responsibility through the good support they receive from staff andby taking part in extra-curricular activities.
• Attendance is now good.
• The school is well led and managed.
• Staff have good opportunities for development and newly qualified teachers are well-supported.What could be improved
• GCSE results and standards and achievement in years 10 and 11 especially in mathematics, numeracy andscience (double award).
• Assessment procedures and acting on the results.
• Provision for and teaching of citizenship.The areas for improvement will form the basis of the governors’ action plan.

The school has made satisfactory progress since its last inspection in 1996. The GCSE results remained much the same until 2002 when they improved sharply. The impact of the work of the attendance officerhas resulted in a substantial improvement in attendance. Teaching has improved. The school has come along way in its use of information about pupils’ performance in order to track progress.