School’s top grades across the board

Head teacher Julie Hollis celebrates an outstanding Ofsted report for the school with pupils

THERE is just one word to describe Blue Coat School — “outstanding”.

It has received the top grade across the board in two inspections by the education watchdog Ofsted and the Church of England

Blue Coat became an academy in August and has 1,448 pupils, including 342 sixth-formers.

Students join with attainment which is significantly above average and the proportion of children with special educational needs and disabilities is below average, but has grown in recent years.

Excellent
Ofsted said: “All the school’s outcomes are outstanding; students make excellent progress academically and in developing a wide range of skills and attitudes that prepare them thoroughly for life beyond school.

“Students with special educational needs and/or disabilities and other groups, such as students known to be eligible for free school meals, make better progress than in other schools nationally, demonstrating the school’s outstanding commitment to promoting equal opportunities.

“The school’s outstanding performance is substantially due to the modest, self-effacing yet inspirational leadership of the head teacher.

“Supported by an outstanding governing body, she has promoted an extraordinary level of shared ambition on the part of all staff to be the best they can be.”

The inspectors praised high attendance and excellent behaviour. GCSE results are consistently high and results have risen steadily in the sixth-form which has some of the best teaching in the school.

“Although many students attain high levels in the GCSE and A levels, the school also provides well for students who do not find academic work easy,” they added.

The Church of England inspection said: “The school, through its distinctive Christian character, is outstanding in meeting the needs of all learners. Blue Coat fully lives out its ethos of faith, vision and nurture.”

Blue Coat also received outstanding inspections in 2008.

Delighted head teacher Julie Hollis said the success was down to a team effort, adding: “It’s very reassuring to know that independent and objective authorities, who see and compare schools across the country, believe that our school ranks alongside the very best nationally and that our sixth form is exceptional.”