Outstanding top marks for school

There have been celebrations at a Spalding school which has been rated as Outstanding by Ofsted.

Pupils thrive in a culture of high aspiration and challenge themselves to be the best they can, says the Spalding High School report published this week.
“Pupils’ contributions to the life of the school make it the exceptional place is too learn,” says the report.
The school was rated Outstanding for education quality, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership. It was also Outstanding at its previous inspection.
“I am so very proud of the school. Our pupils and students are exemplary, our staff and governors are excellent and we have fantastic support from our parent body,” said the headmistress Michele Anderson.
“The new Education Inspection Framework is far more rigorous than the previous system, and as we know from the national picture, fewer and fewer schools are securing an outstanding judgement and so we are thrilled that inspectors judged the school as such,” she added.
The school has a total of 940 students aged from 11 to 18 on the school roll.
“Teachers use their excellent subject knowledge to provide pupils with work that motivates and challenges them. They regularly check pupils’ understanding,” the report says.
The school’s sixth form was rated Good by the Ofsted inspectors.
“They value the respectful and focused atmosphere in which they study/ In many lessons, students benefit from thoughtfully designed work that helps them to build their knowledge,” the report says.
The wide range of clubs and activities on offer was also highlighted by the inspection team.
“The school provides multiple experiences to help pupils to broaden their horizons. Pupils take part in battlefield trips connected to their study in history. They visit Iceland, Italy and Austria to help them experience their subjects outside the classroom.”
Students with special educational needs and/or disabilities have their needs identified quickly and staff are knowledgeable about the pupils.
The school has a student council which gives pupils a voice and they support their peers as wellbeing champions and anti-bullying ambassadors, the report says.