Good all round

Ofsted report on Old Buckenham High School

Old Buckenham High School is celebrating after receiving a ‘good’ rating in all key areas, achievement, teaching, leadership and management, and behaviour and safety, during its recent inspection. The school was one of just 150 schools chosen from across the country to be inspected under Ofsted’s pilot inspection programme.

In their report, Ofsted inspectors praised the ‘strong leadership and management at all levels’ saying it has ‘brought about significant key improvements since the school was last inspected’. They also observed that ‘teachers have a good rapport with students which underpins the learning’ and ‘the proportion of students gaining A*-C grades including English and mathematics in GCSE examinations in 2010 was well above average’.

The report noted that ‘students conduct themselves well in classrooms and around the school, helping to ensure that students feel safe’, a view reflected by parents and carers with 98% agreeing that their child feels safe at school in questionnaire responses. The inspectors spoke with a large number of the 604 students on roll and were told that bullying is very rare but is dealt with.

Headteacher Peter Whear said that he was delighted that the inspection team recognised how good the school has become and the huge strides that it has already taken towards its goal to become an outstanding school.