Outstanding results

Under the latest Ofsted framework it is very difficult to be judged ‘outstanding’.

Very few schools within Devon have been awarded an ‘outstanding’ judgement and many that had been judged ‘outstanding’ up to ten years ago have found it difficult to maintain that grade when re-inspected.

Over the last year within Devon, published reports show only one primary school has been judged ‘outstanding’ in a graded inspection, Broadclyst Community Primary School maintained their ‘outstanding’ judgement from 2008. Ofsted succinctly noted that “Trustees hold school leaders to account. They gather pertinent information, which they use to ask challenging questions.” Lady Sewards CofE Primary School held onto their ‘outstanding’ judgement in an ungraded inspection, but the inspectors noted that the grade may not have been as high if it had been a fully graded inspection.

Colyton Grammar School was also inspected in the last year and given an ‘outstanding’ judgement following their previous ‘outstanding’ in 2007.  Their report however, had nothing to say specifically about the work of the trustees in supporting the school.

Whilst not achieving the overall grade of ‘outstanding’, many schools came close, with one or more of the categories judged as ‘outstanding’ within an overall grade of ‘good’. Schools that fell into this category over the last year included Bickleigh Down CofE Primary, Denbury Primary, Ellen Tinkham School, Holbeton Primary, Kingskerswell CofE Primary, Lydford Primary, Monkerton Community Primary, Newton St Cyres Primary and Yeo Valley Primary School.

Two further schools inspected recently as part of an ungraded inspection were advised that if it had been a graded inspection there was a very good chance they would have been judged ‘outstanding’ overall, Chulmleigh College and Uplowman CofE Primary School. The comments from Ofsted for Chulmleigh College were:   “The board of directors and the school provide exceptional leadership and are committed to continuous school improvement. They are relentless in their desire to provide the absolute best education for all pupils and to serve the local community.”

For Uplowman CofE Primary School Ofsted said: “The school is led with compassion and kindness. Governors share the school’s aspirational culture, created among staff and based on mutual trust and respect. They know what is going well in the school and what needs further improvement. Governors ask challenging questions and hold leaders to account for their actions. Staff unanimously agree that leaders, including governors, take their well-being and workload seriously.”