Ofsted Inspection 2023 – Outstanding!

Ofsted Inspection News – June 2023

Students, Staff and Governors at The Bishop’s Stortford High School are this week celebrating the results of their ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted report following an inspection in May.

The pressures of the Covid pandemic and funding challenges in recent years make it an all the more impressive achievement to gain two ‘Outstanding’ judgements in successive inspections.

Headteacher, Dale Reeve, said: “I am delighted to announce that Ofsted once again judged us to be an Outstanding school. It was with immense pleasure that I was able to share with governors, staff, students and parents the final report from the Ofsted inspection that took place on 24^th & 24^th May 2023.

As we had been judged Outstanding in every category in March 2017, we were eligible for a ‘light-touch’ inspection this time round. The report is, therefore, a bit shorter than for our previous full inspection, but is nonetheless a fantastic summary of our school. It is a joy to read with the opening line of the report being: “Pupils achieve highly at this stunning school.”

Whilst we already knew that our school had many strengths, it is wonderful to have it confirmed once again by Ofsted and we can all be rightly proud to have gained such recognition. The inspectors were incredibly impressed with the attitudes and conduct of the whole student body throughout the process and specifically remarked on just how polite, well-mannered and well-behaved they were.

I know that students and parents appreciate just how hard the staff work to provide not only the superb teaching, but also the wonderful opportunities for the students, and I am pleased that Ofsted acknowledged it with their comments “Students appreciate staff’s willingness to go ‘above and beyond’ in the time they give.” and “Parents are overwhelmingly supportive of the school.”

I’m incredibly grateful to every member of the school community for helping us achieve this impressive accolade and for continuing to support us in all that we do. With the move to the new school taking place next year, it will be wonderful to have the facilities to match our continued Outstanding status.

Despite it not being obvious from the report, we do still recognise that there are things we can do to improve, so we will not rest on our laurels, but will continue to uphold our values and work hard to give our students the best possible ‘truly all-round education’ moving forward.”

Click here to read the report: TBSHS Ofsted report May 2023

Chairman of Governors Alan Fordham added ” The governing body are immensely proud of the school leadership team and all staff who have been able, to once again, achieve the highest accolade possible from Ofsted, outstanding!

Some quotes from the report –

• “The Bishop’s Stortford High School continues to be an outstanding school.”

• “Pupils achieve highly at this stunning school.”

• “Behaviour is exemplary in lessons and around the school”

• “Sixth-form students regularly secure the top grades at A level.”

• “Leaders and teachers have the same high expectations for pupils with SEND.”

• “Pupils are ambitious for their futures.”

• “There are many leadership opportunities, such as being house captain or school councillor,  for pupils to enjoy.”

• “Leaders and teachers continue to deliver high-quality education”