Message from the Principal

What a half-term! We started the year on a high following the fantastic exam results and amazing destinations achieved by Year 13 (96% of students went to university or started a degree apprenticeship) and within weeks were celebrating our attendance being in the top 1 or 2% nationally. We have finished the half-term in the top 2% of secondary schools, which means that we are in the top 60 or so schools among the 3500 secondary schools in the country. Last year we finished the year in the top 10% and it would be amazing to finish the year significantly higher than that this year.

Three weeks into the new year we had an Ofsted inspection. As part of the process, the inspectors speak to many members of staff and pupils, and ask staff, pupils, and families to complete questionnaires. They even phoned two of our families to have a more in-depth conversation. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making it such a positive experience. I am waiting for the draft of the report, which is due any day now, and I hope the final report will be published early in the new half-term. The new scorecards are different to the old Ofsted grading system – you can see below, the new scorecard and how they align with the old grading system on the right.

I am very much looking forward to sharing the judgments with you and the wider community, and although I can’t do that yet, I can share some of the feedback that was given to us in one of the meetings on the second day. An inspector said that ‘There is no barrier to children thriving in the school. The journey is unique and bespoke to all pupils – they are supported all the way through to success in achievement and a career of their choice. All options are open and the school does not let anything be a barrier… We see the moral imperative that underpins everything, which is the exceptionality – you will do everything for these children and nothing is too much’. What a wonderful comment, which acknowledges the hard work and dedication of the staff in helping young people become the adults they dream of being.

I hope you enjoy reading about all of the other activities that have taken place in this term and I look forward to seeing you after the half-term break.

Doctor Stevens