Highfield Middle School, Prudhoe, Northumberland. Headteacher: Alan Sample Chairman of governors: Yvonne Davies
Main findings of the most recent Ofsted report: Very high standards are achieved by pupils. The school has very high quality of teaching and very good leadership by senior management and governors. There is provision for pupils with special needs, and high quality target setting and monitoring of performance.
How would you describe the school's ethos and values? The school promotes traditional values of good behaviour, hard work and support for each other, especially the weaker members of society. The school is a happy, friendly place to work and study. Pupils know we have very high expectations of them in all areas of performance. We have an open door policy to parents.
What are the school's main strengths? Discipline and behaviour; anti-bullying and moral values; literacy and numeracy; attainment in science; involvement in sport and music.
What areas are the school trying to improve? Boys' writing. Facilities for sport, ICT and library.
What extra-curricular activities and out-of-school provision does the school have? Sports (including football, rugby for boys and girls, athletics), musical instrument tuition, production of stage performances.
Most recent SATs results? Key Stage Two, percentage of pupils getting level four or above: English 99pc, maths 94pc, science 98pc.
What are the school's proudest achievements? We were the first middle school in Northumberland to receive the Basic Skills Agency Quality Mark. We were also awarded Partnership Promotion School status by the Teacher Training Agency in partnership with Newcastle University for excellence practice in student-teacher tutoring, and a DfES School Achievement Award for excellence in Key Stage Two SATs results.
In February 2003 Highfield became only the second middle school in the county to be named in the Chief Inspector's report to parliament as one of the country's most successful schools. We are regularly visited by other teachers looking at good practice and the headteacher does outreach consultancy work in Northumberland and elsewhere on raising achievement.
Northumberland
