Nonsuch and Wallington Girls Ofsted rating

[gulat]

Hi all

We visited both the schools during thier open days and liked the schools. However a friend has just pointed out that both schools were rated as 'Good' not 'Outstanding' by Ofsted with highlighted areas needing improvement. Academically both schools are producing fantastic results. Would anyone in the forum be able to shed some light on this. I have since checked ofsted reports of other Grammar schools and all of them appear to be rated 'Outstanding'.

[tiffinboys]

Looks like the effect of changes to Ofsted methodology. Nonsuch is one of the best schools around.

[Ladymuck]

Deleted by user.

[gulat]

Thanks Ladymuck.

I had a really old ofsted report for Wallington. However as you have highlighted the area for improvement are around teaching and that is what concerned me.

However this is in complete contrast to the academic results the schools are achieving. Does this mean that the most able stduents are self motivated or encouraged by parents?

[loopylou]

It stands to reason that a school with highly competitive entry to Year 7 will have excellent exam results. Anything less would be of huge concern in terms of pupils reaching their projected targets.
However it also makes it harder for such schools to demonstrate value added and gain credit for these results with Ofsted. Taking 180 very able students through to great GCSE results is far less of an achievement in value added terms than a non selective school whose results are lower overall but far better than their intake implies they should achieve.

In addition, there will be an element of parental and pupil driven results at a selective school. Nonsuch's reports states:

Students and parents who spoke or wrote to inspectors suggested that, for some, outstanding examination success is helped by additional tutoring outside school and parental academic guidance that complements good classroom learning.

This doesn't mean teaching is poor - the report states that it is good and only one area of concern regarding differentiation is really highlighted. It probably just means that the school attracts a lot of pupils whose parents would probably tutor and push for higher results no matter which school they attended and no matter how hard the school pushed its pupils.