Maidenhead & Windsor

Cox Green School,Maidenhead is making improvements and this has been recognised by inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) who spent two days with the pupils and staff at the beginning of February.

Their report points to the significant improvement in the quality of teaching since their last visit and gives a "good" rating to the sixth form, with praise for its teaching and learning, leadership and management and the progress made by the students.

The report also commends the curricular provision in the Maidenhead school, mentioning especially that for pupils with particular literacy needs and the increasingly-wide range of vocational opportunities for older pupils, including work-related courses. There is also good provision to support students' future economic well-being and there are "positive changes" since the school achieved specialist status for performing arts.

The inspectors say they are satisfied with pupils' personal development and praise the Cox Green approach to the care, guidance and support it provides for them. They also highlight the leadership and management of the school, with headteacher Ian Hylan having a "sound understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses". Governance is "sound overall".

To support the Maidenhead school's continuing improvement, the report sets out areas for particular attention, including further development of good teaching and quality of learning, improving attendance and punctuality and ensuring that religious education provision meets the required levels.

Peter Powell, chair of governors, has written to parents and pupils to let them know about the outcome of the inspection and commented: "We are pleased the inspectors graded the sixth form as good and that they recognised the progress the school is making. We recognise that there are areas for improvement and the governors and I will be working with Mr Hylan and the school staff to make sure that this progress continues."

Mr Hylan said: "The new Ofsted inspections are tougher than in the past and we are pleased that the inspection team has taken on board everything we are already achieving at Cox Green. Our progress towards further improvements is well established and the entire school community will be involved as we move forward. We are confident of further progress."

The Royal Borough (the local education authority) is supporting Cox Green on its improvement path. Jeff Smith, head of learning and achievement, said: "The LEA is committed to working with Cox Green to implement the improvements which will aid its further development. We have strong relationships with the school which is moving forward very positively in the best interests of the pupils, both now and in the future."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead