Archbishop Blanch CofE High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

Archbishop Blanch CofE High School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils flourish in this school, where they are supported to strive for excellence.

The school encourages pupils to be aspirational. It provides them with an education of the highest quality to enable them to fulfil these aspirations. Pupils and students in the sixth form recognise that they benefit from an excellent education.

They achieve exceptionally well.

The school is a haven of calm where learning typically proceeds uninterrupted. Pupils treat others with consideration.

Students in the ...sixth form particularly value the purposeful and professional atmosphere in which they learn.

Difference and diversity are cherished. Pupils eagerly anticipate the annual 'diversity fashion show', a joyous celebration of each other's cultures and backgrounds.

Pupils have the confidence and freedom to be themselves. This helps them to feel happy in school.

Pupils feel deeply rooted in the school community.

From the start of Year 7, they begin to learn the value of belonging to and serving this community. For instance, pupils readily take on roles such as form captains or worship leaders. Pupils are also encouraged to contribute to society beyond the school.

For example, sixth-form students work with members of the local community to organise and distribute donations through the 'food pantry'. Pupils develop into empathetic and thoughtful young people.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school provides an exceptional curriculum that is meticulously designed from Year 7 to Year 13.

Very careful thought is given to ensuring that the diversity of the school community is reflected in the curriculum that they learn.Staff have a strong shared understanding of the essential knowledge that pupils should learn in each subject. This, combined with staff's wealth of expertise, supports the design of effective learning activities.

It also enables staff to make precise checks on pupils' understanding. Staff help pupils connect new information to what they already know. Pupils deepen their understanding of difficult concepts through discussion.

They articulate their learning using an impressive range of subject-specific vocabulary. Pupils' incredibly positive attitudes towards their education are readily apparent. They are quick to turn their attention to the learning at hand and make the most of the opportunities that staff provide.

Pupils develop a deep and rich body of knowledge in each subject.

Inclusivity is central to the school's ethos. Any barriers to pupils' learning, including any difficulties with reading or any special educational needs and/or disabilities, are identified swiftly and accurately.

Pupils who struggle to read receive expert support, which helps them to catch up. Leaders' ambition for disadvantaged pupils has no limits. Every effort is made to ensure that these pupils benefit from all the school has to offer.

Staff provide carefully tailored support to enable disadvantaged pupils to achieve exceedingly well.

Leaders' approach to fostering pupils' personal development is woven throughout every aspect of school life. The school enhances pupils' personal development through its 'ACE' and 'CORE' programmes.

Through these programmes, pupils encounter a vast array of topics that help them to understand and navigate life in modern Britain. For instance, pupils develop a sound understanding of fundamental British values, explore the impact of social media on their well-being and learn about managing finances. The school emphasises teaching pupils to think critically.

Pupils learn to express disagreement courteously and to advocate for themselves and others.

Pupils benefit from a comprehensive careers programme. This broadens their horizons and equips them with the skills and information they need to be successful.

For example, 'meet the professional' sessions provide pupils with the opportunity to speak to people from a wide range of careers and industries. Students in the sixth form spoke particularly positively about the advice they receive about their futures. Pupils are furnished with a wealth of information to help them make well-informed decisions about their next steps.

Their experiences in school successfully prepare them to embrace those steps with confidence and enthusiasm.

Strong, driven and immensely effective leadership has resulted in the school maintaining exceptionally high standards. A moral imperative to provide an education of the highest quality to pupils in this community permeates all that the school does.

Governors, many of whom have longstanding connections to the school, use their wide-ranging expertise to great effect to support and challenge leaders. Staff share the school's commitment to excellence. They appreciate opportunities for meaningful consultation about numerous aspects of school life, such as the school's calendar.

This helps leaders to understand and minimise the impact of their actions on staff's workload. Staff, and the pupils who thrive in their care, are happy to be part of this school community.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Background

Until September 2024, on a graded (section 5) inspection we gave schools an overall effectiveness grade, in addition to the key and provision judgements. Overall effectiveness grades given before September 2024 will continue to be visible on school inspection reports and on Ofsted's website. From September 2024, graded inspections will not include an overall effectiveness grade.

This school was, before September 2024, judged outstanding for its overall effectiveness.

We have now inspected the school to determine whether it has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at that previous inspection. This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school's work has improved significantly or that it may not be as strong as it was at the last inspection, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection. A graded inspection is carried out under section 5 of the Act.

Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

This is the first ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be outstanding for overall effectiveness in February 2020.