Ofsted Grades

[HPFA]

Many congratulations to this school which on the Progress 8 measure is the 14th best in the country www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/14819284.Amazing_turnaround_as_failing_Oxford_school_surges_to_top_of_school_rankings/

It is in a deprived area and definitely not a leafy school! Ofsted, however only think it is "good". Wouldn't most of us consider this school to be outstanding?

Ofsted measure lots of things about a school not just it's exam results.

As it happens my children's school has just achieved -0.7 (well below average) with progress 8 scores yet it has had its best GCSE results ever with more students gaining oxbridge places and more A/A* grades than at any other time in it's history. It's currently 'good' with Ofsted and as they're due an inspection shortly the results with progress 8 will mean it most likely will be graded 'requires improvement'.

Progress 8 is not the be all and end all either. I suggest you read the Ofsted publications on how judgements are reached. Lots of elements are taken on board. Sometimes a good progress 8 can be difficult to achieve with brighter children so the scope for improvement and progress has to be considered as does the school's plans to address any poorer performance. Also, a one off blip that can be explained is less worrying than years of under-performance and poor teaching. If teaching is good and leadership is good there may be no need to worry.