Wymondham High School

Since January 2023, Chris Smith. Appointed from within the Trust, his second headship. Brought up in Norfolk, studied geography at Leicester and then headed to the ‘real world’ of banking in London. Quickly realised it was not for him and headed back to Norfolk and teaching, ‘which had always been in the back of my mind’. Ambitious despite claiming not to want to be a head, with a great belief in social justice and fairness. A head of year role came quite quickly, followed by head of department and then deputy in 2014. ‘When the head position became vacant I knew that I could not live with someone else doing it.’ Four years as head at Neatherd High led to Wymondham High and a much bigger role.

Wymondham High is seen as a very academic school, in quite an affluent area historically. This is changing slightly with lots of new affordable houses being built locally. The head recognises this and being a huge believer in comprehensive education is working hard to make sure that every child who comes to the school gets the same opportunity. Parents like him and everyone we spoke to said how he had improved communication. ‘Approachable and likable.’ ‘He has good old-fashioned values and seems to realise that he has excellent staff and needs to keep them.’ His weekly newsletters are welcomed and appreciated and parents feel involved. The odd murmur about an appointment from within the Trust but quickly dispelled as he has proved himself. ‘I really like him and he celebrates success – of the school and pupils individually – which I really like.’

He was aware that the changing demographics of the area, reflected in the increase in pupil premium figures and the 12 per cent on free school meals, meant that some pupils would need more support. More pastoral staff have been employed: ‘We need to make sure that every child can access the curriculum, is well supported and reaches their potential.’

Interviewing a head with a black eye was a first for us. ‘It gives me a bit of credibility,’ he said with a wry smile. We should explain it came from boxing training rather than anything more nefarious. He keeps his hand in by teaching year 9s.

Non-selective but the school is oversubscribed and families move to Wymondham to guarantee a place. Pupils also come from small rural primaries within a 10-mile radius. An intake of over 260 a year in reception is set to rise dramatically as the school goes from 1610 pupils to 1900 following building work starting in the summer of 2024. School well aware that its sheer size could overwhelm a child coming from a tiny rural primary so makes sure these children have extra taster days in year 6, usually three. ‘Such a simple thing to do but so effective,’ says one grateful parent whose child really benefitted from this.

Sixth form entry requires a minimum of 38 points from GCSEs and minimum entry grades in specific subjects. Sixth form openly academic with health and social care the only vocational subject. A large cohort join the sixth form from other local comprehensives, mainly because of the subjects on offer.

About half leave after year 11 and head is working hard to retain more pupils. There is stiff competition from a newish sixth form college in Norwich which specialises in maths and sciences, and improved public transport to get there. Others head to more vocational courses at local colleges. Those that stay usually do so because of the strong relationship they have with staff and the large choice of subjects. Some new arrivals attracted by the classics offering.

Forty per cent leave after A levels for Russell Group universities. Two to Oxbridge last year, one American sports scholarship. Apprenticeships encouraged and embraced. Five per cent go straight into work.

Surprisingly small classes for such a large school. Average class size of 25 with a maximum of 28 for years 7-11. Between 17 and 21 in sixth form. Parents know this, hence the fight for places. Every student follows the same curriculum and takes at least 10 GCSEs. All of them do the EBacc, the highest uptake in Norfolk. Every child does a language (nearly 15 per cent do two) and all do double science, 50 per cent triple and rising. Maths and science set from year 7. Classics available and Latin to be introduced, currently accessed through a club. The bar is set high and quality teaching keeps it there. Teachers have an hour of CPD training weekly. Fifty per cent of pupils choose art at GCSE and the school’s reputation for this precedes it. Languages popular in the sixth form, with French, German and Spanish guaranteed at A level. A full-time careers counsellor on site.

Parents speak highly of ‘passionate and excellent teachers’: ‘They really do care and get the best out of the students.’ And this seems to bring the best out of the children. Parents choose the school because of its reputation and ‘they offer good access to lots of different subjects, which is vital’. ‘Pupils are given huge opportunities academically and so many of the teachers are really excellent and offer great support.’ Parents were happy that the school communicated well with them and if a child was struggling support was immediately available. They also approved that no nonsense is taken for homework no-shows. Pupils are made to complete it during break and lunchtimes, with immediate detentions if this continues.

‘Bright children can sometimes be forgotten and overlooked in these large schools,’ said one perceptive parent, ‘but not here. They try and be equal to all and by and large, that seems to work.’ Even the quieter child seems to hold their own. ‘My child is respected by their peers despite being unassuming and quiet. They are happy here.’ This is good to hear as it would be easy to get lost in a school of this size. Parents spoke about ‘mentoring schemes and great support’. It would appear to work.

We enjoyed our tour of the school with our enthusiastic young guides dressed in hi-vis vests, which was a first for us. It was interesting though that they did not always recognise pupils from different year groups, sometimes even their own – a reflection on the size of the place rather than a criticism. It was noticeable that staff were friendly and pupils more than happy to chat to us and show off their work. Staff also wore hi-vis when they left the classroom. This seemed quite bizarre but they are then easy to spot, particularly at lesson changeovers and breaks, when a one-way system did not always seem to be strictly adhered to. Year 10s were quietly getting on with a geography lesson; the allotment was noted, as was the ‘sauna room’ for social sciences; and year 7 were enjoying a physics practical with a chatty teacher, all in their safety goggles and delighted to show us their experiment. The main part of the school is built around a quad, with designated subject areas and a separate area for the sixth form.

The school keeps in close touch with parents and academic action points are flagged. ‘They keep track of the children and problems are picked up quickly.’ ‘The teachers have academic aspirations for their pupils so maximise their potential. They know when and how to apply pressure when it is needed.’

We must point out that our tour was after a break and there was barely any rubbish left lying about – just two lone crisp packets. Excellent.

A total of 129 pupils are registered with SEND for dyslexia, communication and interaction challenges, cognition and learning, emotional, social and mental health and sensory/physical needs and the rest, with 334 on an intervention list being supported for possible SEND. There is a wide range of supports available for those that need it including extra lessons and one-to-one. A new SENCo has been appointed since the head’s arrival and TAs are used more effectively, ‘layered’ throughout the school, meaning you can’t always spot which child is getting the most support – a good thing. Extra help available out of lessons for those that need it, usually in small groups. Strong emphasis on raising literacy levels with a six-week programme for some. All parents spoke highly of the extra support on offer and how it was delivered. ‘My child has had lots of support from the school, from the head down, and at times this has meant a lot of extra work for them,’ said one grateful parent. ‘I really appreciated that.’

Gifted and talented invited to join debating society and have successfully competed against local independents. ‘We keep a keen eye on these children too and make sure they are able to flourish,’ says the head.

For 90 children, English is not their first language, and this number has risen in recent years; first languages range from African dialects to Ukrainian and eastern European. Different levels of support available depending on need. Tablets are provided ‘and then we wean them off them as they become more proficient’.

Les Misérables is the latest all-school production with plenty of opportunities on and off stage. Parents spoke of new staff in the music department ‘who had transformed it’. Orchestras, bands and choirs are active. Wymondham High is renowned for its art locally and we can see why, it was impressive. They hold an annual exhibition in Norwich open to the public and well attended.

A plethora of clubs and societies: chess, Lego, Latin, knitting and Warhammer were a few that got a mention. Parents said, ‘The opportunities available are incredible and pupils are encouraged to make the most of them – everyone gets to have a go.’ Lots of school trips, including classics to Pompeii and Naples. The odd parent said that the school was slow to react when it came to external opportunities such as work experience: ‘It seems to take forever for checks to be done which isn’t good enough.’

Wymondham High is the largest provider of DofE in the county with over 100 year 9s taking part every year warranting a full time coordinator. Fifteen did gold in 2023. One parent noted that ‘children are expected to aim for gold’.

Sport is important here and it’s good to see it’s still on the timetable for sixth formers: ‘We insist on it.’ Lots of teams, including rugby and football for girls and boys; no mixed teams as yet. They make good use of the rugby club up the road as well as the leisure centre right next door, including the swimming pool. The PE department is successful. School is the Norfolk schools’ RFU county cup holder, and there’s plenty of silverware for the boys’ football teams; not so much for the girls’. A wide variety of sports to choose from including table tennis. We got the impression from our guides that even the less sporty got a chance to shine. ‘We chose the school because of the sport as well as its academic reputation,’ one parent told us. Lots of pitches and plenty of space.

The school has a reputation for good pastoral care and the head has doubled down on this since his appointment. Since his appointment he has added two wellbeing huts where all pupils can go for some quiet and advice. There is also a new sensory room accessible to 25 students who are contracted to use it. There is a real and growing need for mental health provision but the head is aware that they also need to be conscious of those who are ‘weaponising’ it – a very wise man. Appropriate support is available for those that need it, ‘but we can’t offer a full social care and mental health service’.

All parents were happy with pastoral care and noted that ‘tutor time every morning helps and I’m confident that my child’s tutor knows them well’. Another parent was not so impressed with their child’s tutor, but said that approaching ‘the assistant head and team leaders got a good response’. ‘The school offers a good supportive environment both academically and pastorally.’

Discipline in a school of this size has to be robust, and it would appear it is. ‘We have rules and follow them. We take a firm line and a quick response. We have same day detentions; it is done and then it’s over.’ Head not frightened to exclude; three since his arrival ‘in line with national figures’. Phone policy is strict. They are out of sight and turned off during the school day. Teachers confiscate (jewellery too) and the parent then has to collect the phone. We were in reception when one parent was doing this, completely accepting and apologetic. Bullying is mainly online and off school premises but dealt with firmly, quickly and fairly. All parents spoke about discipline; some were more positive about it than others but all agreed it was effective. The odd one complained about ‘more disruptive behaviour lower down the school but it is mainly dealt with effectively’. They were sympathetic: ‘I like their old-fashioned values and the discipline here is as good as it can be.’ ‘Sadly it’s a marker of society and they make the best of it,’ said one philosopher. Overall parental views on pastoral care and discipline are very positive.

Parents are mainly well educated and aspirational, with high expectations of the school. They want the very best for their child and are not frightened to push for it. ‘They keep us on our toes,’ said the head, ‘which is a good thing.’ Many have moved to get a place and many more have appealed to get in. Wymondham College, a state boarding school with an equally impressive reputation, is just outside the town so there is a lot of competition for places at both schools. Many parents who had initially set their heart on Wymondham College quickly change their mind after visiting the High. ‘We were really impressed by the staff and children. It initially wasn’t our first choice but after our visit it most definitely was.’ Less aspirational and ambitious parents appear to buy into the ethos quite quickly.

Pupils are survivors here, in the best way. They learn to cope in a large institution and can hold their own and make themselves heard. They appear to adhere to the principles of the school and are more sophisticated and streetwise than you might expect in rural Norfolk.

Wymondham High is large and getting larger so the head is very aware he needs to keep the academic attainment and pastoral care on track. Pupils do not appear to be overlooked here, despite the size, and seem a happy, ambitious bunch. We love the phone policy and parents’ positivity. ‘Every day I think how lucky we were to get our child a place.’