Ofsted reports can offer guide when it comes to selection
Choosing the right school for your child is an important task for any parent.
You want to give them the best start, smooth their way, and make sure they’re in the right environment to achieve their best.
So it stands to reason that many mums and dads consult recent Ofsted reports before making their decision.
All schools are inspected three years after they open and rated “inadequate”, “requires improvement, “good” or “outstanding”.
If they are ranked “good” or “outstanding” they will then be checked again every four years, or every 30 months if rated “requires improvement”.
Schools given an “inadequate” rating may become sponsored academies or be placed in special measures.
Inspectors can arrive on-site anytime after five days from the start of the autumn term every year and schools can only delay or cancel inspections under exceptional circumstances. Ofsted looks at an institution’s:
■ overall effectiveness;
■ quality of education;
■ behaviour and attitudes;
■ personal development;
■ leadership and management. Of course, there is more to a school than its Ofsted rating, but seeing how each institution scores is a good place to start.
Many have been converted to academies since their last inspection and are waiting to be assessed again, so ratings are not available for every school in Bath.
However, we’ve put together a list of the most recent ratings for primary and secondary schools in the city.
The name of each school is followed by its rating and the date of its latest Ofsted report:
■ Saint Gregory’s Catholic College - Outstanding, 2013;
■ Three Ways School - Outstanding, 2019;
■ Aspire Academy - Good, 2017;
■ Bath Academy - Good, 2013;
■ Hayesfield Girls’ School - Good, 2017;
■ Newbridge Primary School Good, 2020;
■ Oldfield School - Good, 2020;
■ Ralph Allen School - Good, 2018;
■ St John’s Catholic Primary School - Good, 2018;
■ St Mary’s Catholic Primary School - Good, 2018;
■ Twerton Infant School - Good, 2018;
■ St Martin’s Garden Primary School- Requires Improvement, 2019.
Bath is also well-known for its host of private schools, such as the Royal High School and King Edward’s School. These institutions are self-funded and therefore exempt from Ofsted inspections.