Ofsted Outstanding

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School and Sixth Form is celebrating moving from a 'good' to an 'outstanding' Ofsted judgement under the new, challenging Ofsted framework (launched in September 2015) after a two-day inspection on the 19-20th January 2016.

Alan Porteous, Headteacher, is delighted that BRGS has been awarded the best possible rating from the education watchdog of ‘outstanding’ by a team of inspectors.  After the two day visit, Ofsted wrote a glowing report which praised standards in each of the inspection criteria: quality of teaching, learning and assessment; personal development, behaviour and welfare; effectiveness of leadership and management and outcomes for pupils.  The School’s Sixth Form, which is non-selective with approximately half of its intake from neighbouring schools, was also rated outstanding.

In a letter to parents, Alan Porteous said: “This the best Ofsted report that BRGS has ever received; the outstanding judgement is a remarkable achievement, given the increased challenge in the most recent inspection framework.  The report is testament to the dedication, commitment and energy of a superb team of staff supported by an experienced governing body.  It is also a reflection of the quality of our students; during the inspection, the team were hugely impressed by their mature approach to their learning, their active engagement, their self-discipline and excellent behaviour.  They did themselves, the school and you proud.”

The inspection report praised all aspects of the school and its sixth form:

• There is an “uncompromising vision of a thriving learning community with ambition and aspiration at its heart” and “a culture that enables pupils to excel as learners and develop as well-rounded citizens”.
• A culture of high expectations and aspirations is embedded further in the sixth form where outcomes for all groups are consistently outstanding.
• Remarkably good teaching supports pupils’ very high, and ever improving, levels of attainment and progress.
• Teaching and learning at the academy is exemplified by the very high expectations of teaching and the enthusiasm and high personal aspirations of the pupils.  Relationships between teachers and pupils are extremely good.
• The academy is a very safe and purposeful environment where pupils value the autonomy they have to explore and develop as individuals.  This has led to them becoming self-disciplined, reflective and independently-minded young people.
• Parents and carers are highly supportive of the leadership of the academy.  The great majority believe their child to be safe, happy and well-taught.
• Little or no supervision is required to ensure that [the pupils] act in a calm and mature fashion. Pupils’ encounters with staff and visitors showed them to be unfailingly polite and helpful.

Alan Porteous commented:  “We are continually engaged in reflecting on our current provision and looking for ways to improve it for our young people.  We are delighted with the outstanding judgement and will seek to build upon it as we continue to equip our students to play a significant role in the community as they progress beyond BRGS.”

Chairman of Governors, David King expressed the delight of the Governing Body at the ‘outstanding’ judgement; it is to the credit of all staff that they provide education to such a high standard.

Please click here for the full Ofsted inspection report.