Ofsted praise for school which ‘goes to great lengths to support pupils and their families’
Outwood Academy Bishopsgarth in Stockton-on-Tees has been praised by Ofsted following its most recent inspection. The report, which comes after a two-day inspection in January, opens by saying ‘Pupils are well cared for, and they are safe at Outwood Academy Bishopsgarth. The school puts pupils’ best interests first, and staff know pupils well. The school often goes to great lengths to support pupils and their families, especially at times of great need.’
Ofsted graded the school as ‘Good’ in the ‘behaviour and attitudes’ and ‘personal development’ inspection areas.
Highlights of the report include:
The school quickly identifies the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff are provided with detailed information about pupils’ needs and the strategies to support them.
The school’s ‘Life’ programme covers important themes such as healthy relationships and online safety. It provides pupils with opportunities to be active citizens in the local community. They visit residents at a local care home, litter pick and the choir performs in the local community.
The school quickly identifies individual pupils who struggle with reading and who require specific support. More widely, the school has clear strategies to support pupils with their reading in lessons.
The school prioritises pupils’ attendance. It works effectively to identify the barriers that some families face so it can take effective action to overcome them. As a result, recent rates of attendance have improved, and fewer pupils are persistently absent.
The careers programme is carefully planned. Starting in Year 7, pupils receive detailed information and guidance to help them make informed choices about their next steps.
Teachers feel well supported by the principal and other leaders with their workload and well-being. They are proud to work at the school.
Jason Rhodes, Principal at Outwood Academy Bishopsgarth, said:
“We are pleased that the improvement in behaviour from the last inspection report has been recognised. We feel really proud that the partnership work with our families has been identified as a strength of the Academy.”
