Malmesbury School learns new Ofsted rating after inspection

Malmesbury School recently received an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating after inspectors visited the secondary school on March 12 and 13 this year.

The latest visit was the school’s first full inspection in 12 years after it was last rated ‘Outstanding’ in 2012.

In a statement following the news, headteacher Brett Jouny said staff were “delighted” to have maintained the high standards set over a decade ago.

He added: “Our relationships with all those in our community are what makes us most proud, students thrive here both socially and academically.

“Parents understand our school and what we want to achieve, and our staff are experts who know how to best support, challenge, and nurture students in every way.”

Inspectors reported that Malmesbury School helps its pupils to “achieve exceptionally well” and has a “highly ambitious curriculum.”

They also found that the school has high expectations surrounding pupil behaviour and does not tolerate any form of bullying, allowing children to feel safe in school.

Malmesbury School (Image: Google Maps)

The report also praised the school’s leadership structure.

It read: “Leaders at all levels share the trust’s vision for an outstanding education. The school is very well supported by the trust.

“Staff receive comprehensive training, networking opportunities, and specialist guidance. They are supported with their workload so that they are highly effective in their roles.

“Governors, trustees, and executive leaders challenge the school to be the very best that it can be.

“The needs of children are at the heart of this school.”

Under the current Ofsted framework, education facilities are judged on their performance in five key areas.

These include the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision.

The school, which is part of the Athelstan Trust, scooped top marks in all these categories.

Despite the impressive result, Mr Jouny added he was keen to continue improving the school.

He said: “We are never satisfied and know that there is always more we can do to develop our school and continue to produce the happy, caring, and excellent adults of tomorrow.

“But we also take time to be delighted that external experts agree with our assessment of the school.

“My favourite quote of all was the final line of the report where inspectors articulate what happy, caring and excellent means – ‘The needs of the children are at the heart of this school’, both academically and socially.”