Academics
The most recent Ofsted inspection was 19 May 2011. In a previous inspection on 29 September 2006. The inspectors report stated that "The school has made good progress since being subject to special measures following the last inspection in November 2004. It now provides an acceptable standard of education and, from the evidence of the significant improvements made; there is a clear capacity to continue this improvement under the direction of the headteacher and senior leadership team." In 2011, they reported that "Upper Shirley High School is a good school. Under the inspirational leadership of the principal, the school has continued on its journey of improvement. Student achievement has continued to rise in spite of the challenges presented by the move from a boys' to a mixed school".
Key stage 3 Maths results now place school in top 25% of UK schools and a successful start to accelerated curriculum resulted in high number of GCSE level 8 awards. The school continues to enjoy sporting success across all sports including rowing and athletics.
Results for GCSE students in 2007 were 41% of pupils managing to gain 5 A*-C grades, and 36% managing to gain A*-C grades in English and Maths. 50% of students gained at least 5 A*-C grades including English and Maths in 2008, 43% achieved this in 2009, and 47.5% in 2010.
New developments will be the taking on of the British Council International Award and development of the International Baccalaureate, both of which will impact on students' learning through international pathways. Current partnerships include Johannesburg in South Africa and Gdansk in Poland.
Read more about this topic: Upper Shirley High School
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“Almost all scholarly research carries practical and political implications. Better that we should spell these out ourselves than leave that task to people with a vested interest in stressing only some of the implications and falsifying others. The idea that academics should remain “above the fray” only gives ideologues license to misuse our work.”
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