This is an exceptional school where every pupil is supported to achieve their full potential. Pupils speak with enthusiasm about their school. They enjoy their learning and are proud of their many achievements. Pupils feel valued and listened to. They have warm and friendly relationships with the staff and each other. Staff know and understand the needs of every pupil extremely well. Consequently, pupils feel settled, happy and safe at the school. Pupils’ behaviour is excellent. Parents and pupils who gave their views agreed that bullying is rare. One pupil’s comment typified many: ‘We don’t get bullied here and if there are problems, staff sort them out quickly and effectively, so we can resolve it, shake hands and move on.’ By the time that pupils are ready to leave Ashley High School they have the skills, knowledge and confidence to take their next steps in life, education or work. One parent’s comment echoed many others, when they said: ‘The school is without doubt the best school any of my children have attended. The school has helped my child not just academically but socially and emotionally.’ What does the school do well and what does it need to do better? Pupils study a broad and varied curriculum. Leaders are ambitious and expect all pupils to achieve highly. Pupils in the secondary school study the full national curriculum and are immersed in the academic, creative, physical and technical subjects from Year 7 to 11. Of equal importance is the development of pupils’ personal and social skills. For example, during the inspection, pupils in Year 8 and the sixth form made and served food in the school snack bar and cyber cafe. They learned important skills for the workplace by serving customers, managing money and cleaning up. Teachers are expert in their subject knowledge. They know pupils’ needs and plan carefully so that pupils learn and remember information in a logical order. Pupils explained how teachers help them to understand where they have made mistakes and how they can improve their work. Staff use literacy activities well in the curriculum to help pupils improve their vocabulary and spelling skills. Real-life situations are used in numeracy and mathematics to develop pupils’ understanding of number as well as their reasoning and problem-solving skills. Pupils are motivated and confident learners with aspirational goals for their future. Pupils consistently achieve nationally recognised qualifications that range from entry level up to GCSEs. The school has a rich and exciting mix of opportunities for pupils and students to extend their learning beyond the classroom and understand the wider world. Residential trips to Germany, China and South Africa have allowed pupils to meet children from other cultures, share experiences and understand their similarities and differences. Visits to local museums and industrial Widnes have brought their study of history to life. Visits to London and the Houses of Parliament helped pupils to understand the role of government and democracy. Each year staff plan an ‘international week’ so that pupils can experience the music, food, dance, costumes, religion, sport and language of other cultures. Each classroom represents a country. Pupils visit each ‘country’ and have their own personal passport stamped. After-school clubs allow pupils to enjoy sport, information and communication technology (ICT), Zumba, music and board games. The sixth form prepares students well for their next steps in education and life. The core curriculum is focused on English, mathematics and ICT. Students also experience a range of vocational, work and independent living options. Leaders have recently introduced supported internships which are having a positive impact and some students are now in paid employment. An independent living space that replicates a small flat allows students to learn skills that will enable them to live independently. Students showed how they were learning to cook food and keep their flat tidy and clean. By the end of key stage 4, pupils are supported to make their choices for their lives post16. Some choose to remain at Ashley High School, whilst others choose alternative colleges or training providers. Leaders are highly effective in their work to improve the school. Their focus on training for staff has developed several strong and able leaders throughout the school. Staff work as a team to ensure that the school’s values, ethos and procedures are consistently followed in all their work. All staff are highly skilled at meeting pupils’ special educational needs and/or disabilities so that pupils flourish in their studies, achievements and personal development.