BSCS rated “good” in Ofsted ICT inspection

Ofsted has rated ICT teaching and achievement at Bradley Stoke Community School (BSCS) “good” in the school’s first inspection since converting to academy status on 1st January.

An inspector who visited the school for the subject-specific assessment in late February concludes in his report that levels of achievement, quality of teaching, quality of the curriculum and effectiveness of management are all “good” (the second-highest possible rating).

The evidence used to inform the judgements included: interviews with staff and students, scrutiny of relevant documentation, analysis of students’ work and observation of eight lessons.

The majority of students are said to make good progress in the subject and achieve at or above their target levels, although the inspector notes that those with special gifts and talents have not always had opportunities to progress and achieve the highest levels.

The quality of teaching of ICT as a subject is said to be “variable” and the inspector points out that the lack of a consistent investigative approach or planning for students’ common errors and misconceptions can slow down the pace of learning.

Writing in last week’s school newsletter, BSCS Associate Headteacher Jenny Sutton Kirby said of the inspection result:

“In general the feedback was positive and supportive and we have a number of things that we will be working on following the advice given, some of which we can address immediately and some of which were already in our plans. There is also much to feel proud of …”

The school’s headteacher, Dave Baker, is currently also acting as the head of Abbeywood Community School, after the Stoke Gifford school was placed into ‘special measures’ by Ofsted in January.