It’s lucky 13 for one Swansea secondary school which has won gold stars across the board in a pilot Welsh inspection scheme.
Bishop Gore School was one of just three Welsh secondaries chosen to take part in the new-style inspection which is being rolled out across the country in September.
Thirteen grades are awarded for different aspects of the new inspection as well as two headline grades. Bishop Gore scored excellent in every single one.
Grades are awarded on a four-point scale: excellent, good, adequate and unsatisfactory. To be awarded the excellent grade schools must be able to demonstrate sector leading practice in their work.
Headteacher Ryan Davies said: “We’re all very proud of this outstanding report. It highlights the significant amount of work which has been undertaken in recent years and the major improvements in all aspects of provision in that period. This report recognises the rapid development of Bishop Gore and also the fact that the school has the capacity to improve further on this already very strong position.”
Every single pupil left Bishop Gore in 2009 with a qualification and the school was praised for this by the inspection team.
The school was also identified as being ahead of the game in implementing the new Welsh drive to improve choice for young people from 14 and up. Further praise was received for the 14 to 19 Learning Pathways programme and the school’s wide choice of vocational courses.
According to the report, the school’s outstanding standards of achievement are matched by a wide range of extra-curricular experiences. These include sports, leisure, music, dance and drama activities as well as revision clubs and enrichment in subjects across the curriculum.
The teachers also came in for a gold star with the quality of teaching identified by the inspection team as a significant strength of the school. The report also highlighted the excellent leadership of Headteacher Ryan Davies and his team. The report said: “They set high expectations and have a clear vision and a commitment to continually improve standards and provide pupils with the best opportunities. Staff share these expectations.”
The school’s use of a pioneering computerised behaviour tracking system and the active involvement of parents in promoting well-being, behaviour and standards were highlighted in the report as being an excellent feature of the school.
Chair of Governors Peggy George said the Estyn report confirmed their belief in the school.
She said: “This new type of Estyn Inspection tests a school’s self evaluation of its leadership and management, the quality of teaching and learning, achievements and well being. All are described as excellent and sector leading. This means that every secondary school not only in Swansea but also in the whole of Wales will be challenged to match the standards set at Bishop Gore.”
