A head teacher has heaped praise on his students following a glowing Ofsted inspection.
Stroud High School was inspected by Ofsted in November and was delighted to achieve ‘Outstanding’ across all of the five main elements of the inspection – Quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management and Sixth Form provision.
Head teacher Mark McShane said: “I am absolutely thrilled for everyone involved in the school. I could not be prouder of our students, and more grateful to you as parents and carers, as well as all my colleagues across the school for making our community such a special place.
“We were pleased that the inspectors not only highlighted the quality of the curriculum and how it is taught, but also our commitment to nurturing our students, providing them with the opportunity for personal growth and preparing them for their lives beyond the school.”
The inspectors had much to praise about the school, but notably the “highly ambitious vision” the school has for its pupils, the high standards of teaching, the “exemplary conduct” of the student body, and the mutual support given to and by all elements of the school. Inspectors wrote: “Pupils thrive at this exceptional school. They relish their learning and the extensive opportunities for personal development.”
The inspectors were especially impressed, not just by the scholarly approach of students to their learning, but also by their enthusiasm to learn beyond the curriculum and the opportunities afforded and planned for them in our 7-year curriculum and extracurricular offer. They wrote: “The school is determined pupils experience the ‘exceptional every day’, and they do.” They added further, “The personal development programme is planned and organised exceptionally well. This complements the academic curriculum.”
Special mention was given by the inspectors to the social responsibility students demonstrate in school. They wrote “Pupils are highly-active citizens. They make significant contributions to the school and the local community” and “Pupils have a strong voice in the school. They are empowered to champion important causes.”
They also praised the students’ attitude and learning climate in the school, “Pupils have very positive attitudes to learning. Their conduct is exemplary.” Also commended was the school’s work in the areas of equality, diversity, inclusion, wellbeing and safeguarding. “Pupils celebrate each other’s differences and play a positive role in creating a tolerant community.”
Since the last inspection in 2010, the school has expanded in size, and the curriculum and provision for the Sixth Form have significantly changed. Staff have worked so hard to transform our Sixth Form offer, and it was rightly graded as Outstanding in its own right. Inspectors wrote: ”In the sixth form, study programmes are tailored carefully to students’ needs. The school has planned the curriculum with precision and as a result, they achieve exceptionally well. Sixth form students are prepared exceptionally well for their future destinations.”
The school was also acknowledged for its work to ensure that students with special educational needs and/or disabilities achieve as well as their peers, and that all students have support and opportunity to reach their full potential regardless of personal circumstances and background.
