Ofsted

School report

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School Glen Road, Waterfoot, Rossendale, Lancashire BB4 7BJ

Inspection dates

19–20 January 2016

Overall effectiveness

Outstanding

Effectiveness of leadership and management

Outstanding

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment

Outstanding

Personal development, behaviour and welfare

Outstanding

Outcomes for pupils

Outstanding

16 to 19 study programmes

Outstanding

Overall effectiveness at previous inspection

Good

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils This is an outstanding academy  The academy is led by an exceptional and visionary Principal, senior team and governing body who have engendered a culture that enables pupils to excel as learners and develop as wellrounded citizens.  The Principal and governors’ perceptive appointments have strengthened the leadership team and support further the academy’s ethos of excellence.  Remarkably good teaching supports pupils’ very high, and ever-improving, levels of attainment and progress.  Disadvantaged pupils, disabled pupils and those with special educational needs make similar or better rates of progress than their peers and considerably better progress than pupils nationally.  The monitoring of the quality of teaching is a highly developed process that supports improvement while allowing teachers the freedom to innovate.

 The academy is a very safe and purposeful environment where pupils value the autonomy they have to explore and develop as individuals. This has led to them becoming self-disciplined, reflective and independent-minded young people.  The academy’s culture of high expectations and aspirations is embedded further in the sixth form where outcomes for all groups are consistently outstanding.  The sixth form enrichment programme is wideranging and enhances learners’ excellent personal and social development.  Action to further develop pupil’s verbal communication skills, improve careers advice and refine the monitoring of participation in extracurricular activities would further enhance the academy’s outstanding provision.