Newsletter
Summer 2018
School firmly on the road to Outstanding
OFSTED have hailed our Headteacher Aruna Sharma saying that she has helped the school to “improve significantly” from being a ‘Good’ school. In a report published this week, inspectors said Ms Sharma, who took the reins last September, had brought a “new energy” to Villiers. The report pointed to strong exams results, pupil behaviour and high staff morale being among the “many strengths” of the school. Inspectors praised safeguarding at the school, finding that students feel well supported, learn in a safe environment and are well looked after. They also found the introduction of higher expectations of pupil behaviour has had a positive effect on the school. The inspectors commented: “The new energy Ms Sharma has brought to the school… is evidenced particularly through feedback from staff and pupils.” “From talking to staff, seeing them at work and evaluating the responses to Ofsted’s questionnaire for staff, it is clear that their
morale is high. Pupils at the school also talked about recent improvements, for example in behaviour and teachers having even higher expectations of them.” The report added: “When Ms Sharma started in September, one of the changes she has made is to tighten up on expectations of pupils’ behaviour. “As a result, expectations of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable have been raised.” It was also noted that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve significantly better than those at other schools. The very favourable Ofsted report comes after the school was named in the top 300 best performing in the country for GCSE results in 2017, with Maths GCSE results being in the top 2% nationally. According to Government figures, Villiers scored plus 0.54 in Progress 8 attainment,
which measures the progress pupils make from the start of secondary school until GCSEs. As a result, the pupils achieved more than half a grade higher than expected in their results. Headteacher Ms Sharma said: “We are all very pleased with this report and look forward to the next visit by Ofsted in which we hope to be officially recognised as an ‘Outstanding’ school in which students make excellent progress. This impressive achievement is only possible due to the hard work and commitment of our staff, pupils, parents and governors. “I am sure with this kind of support and determination, Villiers will continue to grow from strength to strength.” Chair of Governors, Elizabeth Mee, added: “The Governors are delighted with the very favourable Ofsted report, which is confirmation of the impressive improvement in all areas of the school and validation of the commitment and hard work of Ms Sharma, the staff and pupils, as well as the support and enthusiasm of the parents.”
Villiers High School newsletter n Summer 2018