THE INSPECTOR CALLS…AND ITS OUTSTANDING NEWS FOR BALCARRAS!!!

Early in March Balcarras underwent its first full OFSTED inspection since 2014.This week we received the report and it makes for very good reading.

Balcarras received the following judgements:

The quality of education                                        Outstanding

Behaviour and attitudes                                         Outstanding

Personal development                                           Outstanding

Leadership and management                               Outstanding

Sixth-form provision                                             Outstanding

The report is available here

Here are a few choice quotes:

“A positive and inclusive school community”

We were delighted that the inspectors started their report with the following sentence: “Pupils and staff have huge pride in their school.” The report states that the school, “has the highest expectations for all pupils, both for their academic achievement and to be part of a positive and inclusive school community”. We are proud that OFSTED recognised this because it really is at the heart of what we are trying to achieve.

“The house and sixth form teams provide exemplary pastoral care”

Strong pastoral care is the foundation stone for any school. The inspectors found a happy and safe school and commented on the “exemplary” pastoral care which is given to pupils. We were delighted that the inspectors praised the culture of respect in the school. They said that “pupils are highly courteous and respectful, towards one another, and with staff and visitors”.

“Pupils and students immerse themselves in the life of the school”

The inspection team were hugely impressed by just how involved pupils were in the life of the school. They praised Balcarras for offering a “plethora of events and clubs”. We have always said that we want school to be fun. A key way to develop that sense of enjoyment is to ensure, not just that lessons are engaging and lively, but that there are lots of opportunities for pupils to engage in extracurricular activity.

“The school is meticulous in its design of the curriculum”

We have long been advocates for a broad and varied curriculum which has plenty of room for creativity and difference. As a group of educators we also pride ourselves that we are constantly striving to improve our teaching. The inspectors said that “pupils learn the precise knowledge and skills that support them as they move on to new learning.” Teaching is both an art and a science and we enjoyed several interesting discussions around this as the inspection unfolded. The inspectors were fulsome in their praise for the quality of teaching in the school.

“In lessons, pupils work hard and interact positively with their learning”

We are delighted that the inspectors picked up just how hard our pupils work. They really are hugely committed to their studies and that in a large part explains the success they achieve. The inspectors also felt strongly that pupils across the prior attainment range, and those with SEND, were supported very well so that, “all pupils learn the ambitious content of the curriculum.”

“The personal development programme meticulously embeds experiences throughout the curriculum to prepare pupils for life beyond the school” 

We are proud of our personal development provision and it was pleasing that the inspectors judged that it was holistic and embedded right throughout the school. They also praised our provision for careers saying that it is “skilfully” integrated across the curriculum.