Staff, students and parents at Tonbridge Grammar School [TGS] are celebrating after a recent visit from Ofsted confirmed the school’s ‘Outstanding’ rating.
As a previously ‘Outstanding’ school, the grammar had been exempt from inspection since its conversion to an academy in 2011, but that changed with the introduction of Ofsted’s much-publicised new Education Inspection Framework [EIF] rolled out in September
this year.
The new Ofsted framework raises the bar considerably for schools, placing an emphasis on quality of education and assessment of the integrity of the curriculum offered to students.
TGS’ inspection took place over two days and included in-depth ‘deep dive’ assessments of subject provision in a number of areas, including English, Maths and Science, lesson observations, staff, student and governor interviews and a parent questionnaire.
Tonbridge Grammar School is one of the first secondary schools in Kent to have been assessed under the new framework and received outstanding judgements across the board, including the areas of quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and sixth form provision.
TGS is one of just two schools in Kent that achieved the highest possible rating of ‘Outstanding’ since the new framework was introduced.
Head Teacher Rosemary Joyce commented: “The TGS community is extremely proud of the outcome of the inspection and its recognition that the curriculum experience at TGS is outstanding for its breadth and rigour and, importantly, for the preparation for life it offers our students.”
She went on to say: “They are exceptionally well supported academically and it is the focused and individualised support our dedicated and knowledgeable staff provide which means that students do so well.
“I am delighted that the Ofsted Inspection Team chose to highlight that in their report.”
