Three schools in the West Midlands have achieved a rare inspection rating from Ofsted, placing them among the best in the region. Ofsted is now issuing new grades following a recent overhaul of its inspection system. The highest possible rating is 'exceptional', a significant achievement only granted on rare occasions.
Exceptional Ratings: A Rare Honour
Inspectors must be particularly impressed and observe something that goes beyond good to label a school 'exceptional' in a specific area. Ofsted does not hand out these grades easily. In fact, only three schools have earned this honour out of hundreds inspected so far this year, highlighting the difficulty of the achievement.
The only secondary school in the West Midlands to receive this rating is E-ACT North Birmingham Academy in Erdington. Two Walsall primary schools also impressed inspectors: Goldsmith Primary Academy and Reedswood Primary Academy. Many of the best schools in the region have not yet been re-inspected under the new system, so they still hold old 'outstanding' ratings. They will aim for 'exceptional' tags when their turn for an Ofsted visit comes.
Details of the 'Exceptional' Schools
- E-ACT North Birmingham Academy, Erdington - rated exceptional for attendance and behaviour.
- Goldsmith Primary Academy, Walsall - rated exceptional for inclusion; leadership and governance; and personal development and wellbeing.
- Reedswood E-ACT Primary Academy, Walsall - rated exceptional for achievement; leadership and governance; and personal development and wellbeing.
Ofsted said of E-ACT North Birmingham Academy: 'Attendance is very high when compared with the national average for all pupils. Post-16 students attend equally well. The school has sustained these exceptional standards of attendance over time. When the attendance of any pupil slips a little, leaders provide swift and effective support. The school is already sharing its trailblazing strategies to support high attendance with other providers.'
Under the new inspection system, schools are now graded across a range of areas. Previous one-word overall ratings like 'outstanding' and 'inadequate' have been replaced. The new ratings are: exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention, and urgent improvement. Ofsted hopes the new system will provide a fairer and fuller picture of everyday operations, showing exactly where things are going right and wrong, and where improvements may need to be focused.
