OUTSTANDING OFSTED REPORTBrooke Weston has been judged `outstanding’ by Ofsted Inspectors who praised every aspect of the Academy including its leadership, teaching and `can-do’ culture.

Their 15-page report said: ‘Brooke Weston Academy provides students with an outstanding education. This is because the outstanding leadership of the academy knows precisely what needs to be done to ensure students get the best possible start. The staff work incredibly hard to meet the needs of every individual student regardless of their background.’

The report, compiled after a two-day inspection in January 2011, awarded outstanding grades in 30 out of 31 categories.

More than a third of parents returned questionnaires and the ‘vast majority were overwhelmingly supportive of the academy’s work, praising the care, guidance and support off ered to them and their children. All those who responded stated that their children were very happy at the academy, well cared for and enjoyed attending.’

Principal, Trish Stringer was praised while the ‘astute and very well informed’ governing body was noted for its work: ‘One of the many strengths of the academy lies in the cohesive community which leads to all staff , students and governors working together as a team.’

FROM THE PRINCIPAL: I am immensely proud of the Inspectors’ fi ndings which have highlighted the high levels of commitment evident across the Academy. Everyone involved at Brooke Weston received recognition and praise for their work and commitment to excellence. This vision and will to succeed, shared by all at Brooke Weston, has contributed to this outstanding report.

Trish Stringer - Principal

GRADING EXPLAINED

Grade 1 Outstanding These features are highly eff ective. An outstanding school provides exceptionally well for all its pupils’ needs.

Grade 2 Good These are very positive features of a school. A school that is good is serving its pupils well.

Grade 3 Satisfactory These features are of reasonable quality. A satisfactory school is providing adequately for its pupils.

Grade 4 Inadequate These features are not of an acceptable standard. An inadequate school needs to make signifi cant improvement in order to meet the needs of its pupils. Ofsted inspectors will make further visits until it improves.

Leadership:

‘The leadership and management overall, including governance, are outstanding. The Principal, with her highly committed senior leadership team, has galvanised the staff and empowered them to realise a vision of an academy where students fulfi l their aspirations.’

Technology

‘Technology is used exceptionally well by both staff and students to enhance the learning and well being of all concerned. [Students] make excellent use of technology to support their studies. It is rare to see the many computers available around the academy not in use.’

Curriculum:

‘The excellent, broad and balanced curriculum meets the wide range of students’ needs and aspirations. The academy’s outstanding curriculum … puts innovation and enterprise into the heart of the provision. The curriculum is well organised, and thoroughly mapped, providing students with a wealth of highly memorable opportunities within and beyond the academy’.

FROM THE GOVERNORS

Teachers:

‘Teachers have excellent subject knowledge and their very good relationships with students ensures that they learn in an extremely well-ordered and stimulating environment, which inspires and contributes to students’ enjoyment and achievement. Teachers ensure that their lessons are well planned, sharply focused, skilfully managed, well-paced and free from any form of disruption.’

Students:

‘Students are exceptionally well behaved and highly motivated. Attainment is high, and there is a strong upward trend of improvement across all year groups, including in the Sixth Form. Students immensely enjoy attending the academy. They rise to the challenge of high expectations. They behave exceptionally well and work very hard.’

KATIE CRIDGE: Y12

‘I have always been happy here, the learning environment is good and the teachers help you if you are struggling with anything. It is very supportive.’

STUART MOSELEY: Y12

‘It is ambitious and there is a lot of drive to achieve what you know you can achieve. The teachers will all go the extra mile to help you if you need it. It is a friendly place.’

The Governors are delighted that, in the recent inspection, Ofsted inspectors recognised that the outstandingly high academic achievements of the school have been maintained. But it is equally important that they have applauded the outstanding management of the school, and the exceptional way in which students are looked after safely and catered for as individuals. Brooke Weston is, however, never complacent and will continue to strive for yet higher standards of excellence.

Professor Trevor Kerry - Chair of Governors

Pastoral care:

‘Exemplary care, guidance and support pervade all aspects of the academy’s provision. The staff know students very well and the close attention to their pastoral and academic needs is maintained from the start of induction through to the Sixth Form.’

Sixth Form:

‘Students make outstanding progress. There is consistently outstanding teaching from experienced post-16 teachers. Leadership and management of the Sixth Form are outstanding. Care, guidance and support are a truly outstanding feature of the provision in the Sixth Form.’

Parents and carers:

‘The vast majority were overwhelmingly supportive of the academy’s work, praising the care, guidance and support off ered to them and their children. As one parent wrote, “I think that this is an excellent place, and my children have really developed well in their years at Brooke Weston.”’

INSPECTION FACT FILE:

1240 students on roll

470 parental questionnaires returned

125 student questionnaires completed

68 staff questionnaires completed

56 number of teachers observed

52 number of lessons observed

51 weeks of the year that Brooke Weston is open

13 percentage of second-ary schools judged outstanding

REPORT DOWNLOAD

The full report can be read or downloaded from our school website:

www.brookeweston.org/Info/ofsted

EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL

Community

‘Students value and respect each other and are aware of the range of religious and cultural beliefs within the academy and in the community. The academy is a harmonious community where students from all backgrounds get on very well together and feel completely safe.’

KAMAL SINGH: Y7

‘The lessons are fun and it is friendly. I have settled in well and fi nd that the teachers are helpful. I like the range of lessons especially sports.’

SIENNA WEAVER: Y10

‘There is always a good atmosphere and it always

seems really bright and friendly.’

I take particular pride in the recognition Ofsted gives to the professionalism, ambition and commitment shown by everyone at Brooke Weston and, in particular, the outstanding leadership of Trish Stringer and her senior team. The students deserve praise for making the academy such a special place in which to work and learn. This ‘Outstanding’ judgement, that places Brooke Weston among the very best of state funded secondary schools, is a well deserved accolade for everyone associated with the academy.

Peter Simpson - Executive Principal, Brooke Weston Partnership

RESPONSES FROM PARENTS AND CARERS TO OFSTED’S QUESTIONNAIREOfsted invited all the registered parents and carers of pupils registered at Brooke Weston Academy to complete a questionnaire about their views of the school.

In the questionnaire, parents and carers were asked to record how strongly they agreed with 13 statements about the school.

The inspection team received 470 completed questionnaires by the end of the on-site inspection. In total, there are 1240 students registered at the academy.

Statements Strongly Agree Agree DisagreeStrongly Disagree

Total Total % Total % Total % Total %

My child enjoys school 188 40 251 53 21 4 6 1

The school keeps my child safe 279 59 182 39 9 2 0 0

The school informs me about my child’s progress

202 43 230 49 28 6 9 2

My child is making enough progress at this school

217 46 228 49 19 4 3 1

The teaching is good at this school 215 46 234 50 15 3 1 0

The school helps me to support my child’s learning

143 30 247 53 65 14 3 1

The school helps my child to have a healthy lifestyle

108 23 298 63 53 11 5 1

The school makes sure that my child is well prepared for the future

199 42 220 47 32 7 3 1

The school meets my child’s particular needs

185 39 259 55 18 4 3 1

The school deals eff ectively with unacceptable behaviour

182 39 228 9 41 9 9 2

The school takes account of my suggestions and concerns

104 22 267 57 61 13 4 1

The school is led and managed eff ectively

239 51 206 44 15 3 4 1

Overall, I am happy with my child’s experience at this school

254 54 190 40 19 4 1 0

The table above summarises the responses that parents and carers made to each statement. The percentages indicate the proportion of parents and carers giving that response out of the total number of completed questionnaires. Where one or more parents and carers chose not to answer a particular question, the percentages will not add up to 100.