Ofsted

Staff and pupils at Archbishop Holgate’s School have been celebrating the successful outcome of the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection.

Following a two-day inspection in January, inspectors found that pupils achieve highly across all areas of the curriculum; enjoy and actively participate in their learning; benefit from excellent behaviour in lessons, and are extremely ambitious for their future.

The school, previously judged outstanding in all areas, is among some of the first in the country to be inspected under Ofsted’s new framework which has replaced the previous one-word judgements of outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate with a new five-point scale applied across seven key areas.

Due to its different approach to inspections and reporting to parents, Ofsted has stated that the old grades cannot be compared with the outcomes awarded under their new framework.

The midpoint on the new scale, called the ‘expected standard’, is a high benchmark to achieve and recognises that pupils are receiving everything they need and deserve in that area. The strong standard judgement is even harder to gain and marks out where excellent and consistent work is making a real difference to children and young people.

Following their inspection, Ofsted praised the school’s high aspirations, ambitious curriculum and inclusive ethos, finding the school to have achieved a strong standard judgement in six of the seven assessment areas with attendance and behaviour meeting the expected standard.

Archbishop Holgate’s Headteacher, Lucie Pond, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Ofsted has recognised the strengths of our school across so many areas. This report reflects the dedication, expertise and care shown every day by our staff, and the ambition and character of our pupils.

A strong standard grade means that excellent and consistent work is making a real difference to students and we are proud that this has been recognised in so many different areas of school life, from achievement, the curriculum and inclusion, through to leadership, personal development and post-16 provision.

We are delighted that Ofsted’s information about what life is like at our school starts by highlighting that the school values of justice, compassion, forgiveness and trust are lived out by staff and pupils on a daily basis.

We are also proud that the report highlights the excellent behaviour of students, how they enjoy learning and play an active part in lessons, and that our school is calm and orderly. Whilst our attendance is at the expected standard, we welcome the clear direction in this area and will continue to build on the improvements already underway. We know that as a city, improving attendance of disadvantaged and SEN students at secondary school is a key priority.”

As part of their new framework, Ofsted has also changed how they share inspection outcomes, introducing new online report cards. Alongside the grades a school achieves in each area, the report card also contains detailed descriptions of what inspectors found during their inspection as well as a section on what it’s like to be a pupil at the school. Key national data in terms of examination outcomes and destinations is also included for different groups of learners, showing how a school has performed compared to others nationally.

In the school’s report card, inspectors noted that pupils “achieve highly across all areas of the curriculum” and that outcomes at both key stage 4 and post-16 are consistently above national averages.

Results at Archbishop Holgate’s remain some of the strongest both regionally and nationally, with the school having celebrated some of its strongest ever GCSE and post-16 outcomes last summer which ranked it as the highest performing comprehensive school in North Yorkshire.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who are disadvantaged were also highlighted as achieving particularly well.

Archbishop Holgate’s was recently recognised by the Education Secretary for the excellent outcomes achieved by disadvantaged pupils. In a letter sent to the school, Education Secretary, The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson, praised the dedication and hard work of staff and pupils, noting that the school is among the very best nationally for disadvantaged performance.

Safeguarding was confirmed as fully meeting requirements, with inspectors highlighting the school’s open and positive culture where safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and pupils feel safe.

The school’s curriculum was described as “expertly crafted” and “highly ambitious”, and equally accessible for pupils with SEND and those who are disadvantaged. Inspectors observed that teachers ensure lessons are enjoyable and challenging for pupils, with staff benefiting from high-quality professional development, ensuring strong subject knowledge and effective teaching strategies.

The report praises pupils’ high-quality work and their “thorough understanding of current and prior learning”, noting that sixth form students articulate complex knowledge “with clarity and precision”. A large proportion of students progress to highly selective universities, reflecting the school’s culture of aspiration.

The school’s inclusive approach was also highlighted as a particular strength with its bespoke provisions found to enable vulnerable pupils to flourish both academically and personally. Leaders were praised for their careful monitoring of support strategies and for working in close partnership with parents and carers.

Leadership and governance were judged to be strong. Inspectors noted that leaders and governors have a clear understanding of the school’s strengths and areas for development, and that decisions are consistently made in the best interests of pupils. Leaders were recognised as role models with high expectations and a deeply embedded inclusive ethos.

The school’s Chair of Governors, David Taylor, said: “This outcome is a testament to the clarity of vision and unwavering commitment shown by leaders and staff. Governors are proud to both support and challenge the school in equal measure, always with pupils’ best interests at heart. It is particularly pleasing to see the impact of the school’s inclusive ethos and the strong outcomes achieved by disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND.”

Inspectors recognised the opportunities available through the school’s comprehensive personal development programme. Rooted in the school’s values of justice, compassion, forgiveness and trust, the programme enables pupils to engage thoughtfully with ethical issues, understand fundamental British values and grow into active, responsible citizens.

The wide range of extra-curricular activities, leadership opportunities and residential experiences, alongside a well-planned careers education programme, was noted for equipping pupils with the confidence, resilience and ambition, to ensure they are well prepared for life beyond school.

Post-16 provision was identified as a strength of the school, where students benefit from high-quality teaching in all areas and achieve excellent outcomes, including those with SEND and who are disadvantaged. Inspectors found the standard of students’ work and their knowledge of the curriculum to be impressive and highly detailed.

Archbishop Holgate’s School is part of Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust, an inclusive partnership of 18 church and community schools serving more than 6,000 children and young people across York and North Yorkshire. The school was designated as a regional Teaching School Hub in 2021, responsible for delivering teacher training and development to over 200 schools across Ryedale, Scarborough and York.

Andrew Daly, CEO of Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust, said: “Archbishop Holgate’s School exemplifies what can be achieved when high expectations, expert teaching and strong values come together.

This most recent report builds on the two previous outstanding Ofsted inspections and we are extremely proud that for almost 20 years, dating back to the Headship of Mr Harris, the school has consistently provided an excellent education for families across our community.

We are proud of the school’s leadership, including the work as a National Teaching School Hub and remain committed to ensuring that Archbishops, as well as all the other schools in the Pathfinder family, continue to thrive in the years ahead.”