Bishopshalt School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Pupils and staff live and breathe the school's values of 'love learning, show kindness, build character, chase brilliance and bright futures'.

This is reflected in pupils' well-above-average attendance rates, their enjoyment of learning and their excellent social skills. Pupils thrive because of the highly ambitious and rich curriculum and the expertise of their teachers. Pupils who face barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing receive the support they need to excel.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who are disadvantaged achieve extremely well across all subjects alongside their peers and in comparison with all pupils nationally.The school's ambience is calm and purposeful. Pupils enjo...y extremely positive working relationships with their peers and staff.

They are polite, well mannered and kind. Older pupils buddy and support Year 7 pupils to help them quickly integrate into the school's community. All sixth-form students run a wide range of lunchtime enrichment activities for key stage 3 pupils, all of whom attend at least one activity each week.

Because pupils and students integrate so well and are kind to one another, incidents of bullying or discriminatory behaviour are very rare, but they are dealt with effectively should they occur. Pupils feel safe.Pupils benefit from regular assemblies, mostly led by sixth-form students.

These assemblies reinforce the school's core values and are followed up in form time. Activities include structured debates, exploration of the social contract, voting and developing nuance in discussion. All sixth-form students take part in one of 15 student-led societies, including law, Greek mythology, mathematics and debating.

Pupils also contribute to charitable activities locally and abroad. All pupils from Year 7 to Year 13 take part in house-based subject and headteacher challenges, such as creating artwork inspired by poetry, spelling bees, kindness initiatives and university-style quizzes. Pupils leave school extremely well prepared for their ambitious next steps and as active, engaged citizens.