A TREMENDOUS ACHIEVEMENT

Today, we could not be more proud or delighted to share and celebrate the final outcome of our Ofsted inspection that took place at the end of the summer term: in a phenomenal achievement, inspectors judged the school to be operating at a ‘Strong Standard’ across all key areas:

▪️Achievement ▪️Attendance and Behaviour ▪️Curriculum and Teaching ▪️Inclusion

▪️Leadership and Governance▪️Personal Development and Wellbeing▪️Post-16

Furthermore, all safeguarding standards were found to be fully met.

Currently, less than 10% of all schools that have been inspected under the new framework have been awarded ‘Strong Standard’ or above in all areas and this outcome cements Urmston Grammar’s position amongst the highest performing schools both regionally and nationally.

The inspection report highlights the excellent quality of education, behaviour, leadership and personal development across the school, while recognising leaders’ ongoing determination and ambition to further improve wherever possible.

Qualities praised in the report include:

▪️Our school's Culture and Ethos: "Pupils value their education and work hard ... [they] are proud of their school and treat each other with respect [...] Pupils and students attain results in national examinations that are usually well above the national average".

▪️A Curriculum for All: “Teachers have very secure subject knowledge. They use this to explain complex ideas clearly” [...] Teachers also use effective strategies to reduce any barriers to pupils' learning. These strategies are routinely embedded in teaching so that all pupils benefit [...] As pupils progress through the curriculum, they develop a deep understanding of increasingly complex ideas” and [upon completion of their studies, students] "successfully move on to an ambitious range of destinations.”

▪️Outstanding Behaviour and Attendance: “The school's culture of respect and support contributes to pupils' consistently high rates of attendance [...] Pupils carry themselves with utmost maturity and show real self-discipline. They understand leaders’ high expectations for behaviour and rarely fall short of them.”

▪️Exceptional Opportunities beyond the Classroom: the inspection celebrates the breadth of opportunities available to students through the school’s extensive enrichment programme. School staff "provide a broad range of activities and trips that allow pupils to find new passions.” The report commends the school’s inclusive approach to personal development, stating that “pupils who face challenges in their lives, including special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), have equal access to these opportunities” and that “pupils benefit from experiences they might not otherwise have”.

▪️Strong Leadership: “Leaders collaborate with staff and other professionals to make sure that pupils are very well-supported [...] Although the school is highly effective, leaders are not complacent. They use their detailed knowledge of the school to reflect on and refine their practice.”

As our Head, Mr Kennedy-Fowler, says: “This is a tremendous achievement for the whole school community and one that all students, staff, parents, carers and governors should be extremely proud of. Though I already know Urmston Grammar is a fantastic school where our students excel and enjoy their education, it is wonderful to receive this additional validation from the team of Ofsted inspectors. The report reflects our culture of high expectations and hard work, balanced with the care and warmth that is abundant at Urmston Grammar School. I am particularly pleased that inspectors recognised our pupils’ outstanding approach to learning and strong academic achievements, along with the warm and inclusive nature of our school. I look forward to celebrating our inspection outcome with all members of our school community, but also moving onwards and upwards on the next steps of our journey of continuous improvement."

For further analysis regarding the inspection and the full report, please see our school website:

https://www.urmstongrammar.org.uk/page/?title=Ofsted+2026&pid=40