A ‘PROFOUND shift in culture’ has earned a Rugby secondary school a ‘Good’ rating from the schools inspectorate – three years after it received the lowest possible grade.
Ashlawn School received the new rating after Ofsted found ‘significant improvement’ and a community ‘working together with even greater ambition for the school’ following an inspection last month.
Inspectors said behaviour expectations were ‘high and clearly communicated’, lessons were ‘calm and purposeful’, the curriculum was ‘ambitious’ and that pupils ‘work hard and achieve well’.
They said Sixth Form students ‘value the quality of their learning and wider experiences’ and were ‘impressively keen to contribute to the school community’.
They also praised the school’s extra-curricular and enrichment opportunities, the fact that staff felt valued, and that parents ‘talk positively about having their voice heard’.
School Principal Paul Brockwell said: “When I first walked through the doors in 2022, the potential in this school was tangible. With the Transforming Lives Educational Trust we have systematically looked at how we can bring that promise to life in everything that we do – and the way that the community has responded to that challenge has been uplifting.
“There is not one element of this school that hasn’t moved forward with pace, and that is testament to the fact that we are all committed to one thing – and that is ‘our best, always’.
“The most important thing is that our students shone throughout the inspection – and their attitudes, behaviours and successes are the best reflection of a school.”
James Higham, CEO of the Transforming Lives Educational Trust which runs the school, said the last two and a half years had been ‘significant’ for Ashlawn.
He added: “The whole team should be acknowledged for their collective efforts and commitment.
“No stone has been left unturned, and taking the relatively rare step of jumping two judgement grades in one inspection is testament to this. It is an amazing feeling that I hope everyone associated with Ashlawn will feel part of – proud doesn’t even begin to describe it.
“This is, however, a step on a much bigger journey. There is more that we want to aspire to and achieve – and that is what makes the future for Ashlawn School so exciting.”
