OFSTED Inspection (March 2009)

Grove School was inspected by Ofsted on March 10th/11th . This was an anticipated inspection as schools are inspected every 3 years.

 

Currently Ofsted is piloting new inspection arrangements and schools in Shropshire have been part of this pilot. As we were told both during the inspection and at a recent Ofsted meeting for Headteachers, ‘the bar has been raised’, basically under the new framework it is more difficult to meet each grade than under the existing arrangements.

 

We are pleased that the Ofsted judgements about the school were in line with how the Leadership Team judged the school against the new framework. We are a satisfactory school with many good features.

 

We are especially pleased that Post 16 was judged as good in all areas and can report that we have the highest “value added”  for 2008 of any maintained school in Shropshire.

 

We are also pleased that the Ofsted team recognised the journey the school has been on since the last inspection in January 2006 and notes the good progress that has been made. There has been a 10% rise in the GCSE Grades A*-C achieved.

 

An inspection is a bit like an MOT, a quality check on where we are now. The Leadership Team and Governors are aware that we need to continue our drive to improve student progress, results and attendance. We are aiming to do our best for every student and hope that by the next inspection the good judgement for Post 16 will be shared by the whole school.

 

We were pleased to be told by the Inspectors that:

 

• The very broad curriculum offered to students is enriched by extensive local and international partnerships with schools, colleges, businesses and other organisations.
• The wide range of visits, residential trips and extra-curricular activities contribute strongly to students’ enjoyment and to their understanding of how they can make a positive contribution to the school, local and global communities
• The strong ethos and positive attitudes help to underpin sixth formers’ rising standards and good achievement.
• The majority of lessons are characterised by very good constructive relationships between teachers and students and between students themselves.
• The care, guidance and support for the personal development, safety and well-being of students are highly regarded by students and their parents and are major strengths of the school.
• The good relationships which prevail in most classrooms and which help to stimulate good enjoyment of lessons and positive attitudes to learning
• The curriculum is a key strength of the school. It supports students’ achievement by offering a rich range of academic and vocational subjects
• The school provides a caring and supportive environment for young people to develop. For example, the community members and sixth form pupils who are involved in the mentoring of vulnerable young people make an outstanding contribution to their outcomes,
• Parents express satisfaction with how well their children settle into the school when joining Year 7.
• Governors are highly skilled and know the school very well,
• Post 16 students value the freedom and independence they are allowed and the mutual respect in relationships between them and their teachers.

Grove headteacher Jane Radbourne said:

I think it was a fair report and it’s in line with our own judgements about where the school is now.

 

The areas for improvement are ones that we’re already working on and we’ll be trying to tell students that if they work hard and achieve, the school’s standards will rise.

 

It’s fantastic news about post-16 education here and our aim between now and the next inspection will be to bring the rest of the school up to the good judgement that Grove College has had.

 

Grove chairman of governors Peter Ingham said:

We understand the criteria that Osted are working under and we found that the report itself was conducted in a very fair and considerate manner.

 

We’re very heartened and encouraged by how the school has progressed and we hope the students will recognise that the Grove is a truly comprehensive school.

FULL REPORT (Ofsted website)