Top of the class for outstanding school

Wednesday July 7, 2010

A Fulham school has been given top marks and a glowing report in its latest inspection.

The Bridge Academy, in Finlay Street, has been told by a team of Ofsted inspectors that it is ‘outstanding’ – the highest rating a school can get. A team of three inspectors visited the pupil referral unit on June 9-10 and said the progress students are making there is ‘staggering’.

The school has surely and steadily been improving and this year’s inspection is a massive step up from its previous report in 2007 when it was rated as ‘good’. Inspectors praised the teaching staff and strong leadership of ‘inspirational’ headteacher Seamus Oates.

He was elated with the inspection and put the remarkable achievement down to the hard work and efforts of his team of 54 staff and the school’s 164 pupils.

He said: "We are absolutely thrilled with this outcome and are pleased that our vision for alternative secondary learning has been recognised. Staff and learners have worked extremely hard to make The Bridge Academy such a successful learning environment. I am privileged to work with such a caring, skilled and committed team. We are very proud."

In an open letter, lead inspector Bill Stoneham praised the behaviour of the students – all of whom have been permanently excluded from mainstream schools or are on 'managed moves' to prevent exclusion. The 11-16 year olds all have special educational needs and many have learning disabilities.

Mr Stoneham writes: "We are impressed with what you are all achieving. You told us about the high quality education you receive and I am pleased to say that we agree with your views; the education and care you receive are outstanding.

"You are making excellent strides in your learning and personal development. The staff help you to do this but you also help by your positive attitudes, your good behaviour and the contribution you make to securing improvements."

He adds in his report: "In these highly exceptional circumstances, the progress students make in their education, and in their social and emotional development, is quite staggering. The outcomes are far in excess of what might have been expected given the students’ starting points."

Councillor Helen Binmore, H&F Council’s cabinet member for children’s services, said: "Seamus and his team, and the pupils at The Bridge Academy, have worked incredibly hard to get this result and they truly deserve it. The school is constantly improving and evolving.

"We already knew how good The Bridge Academy was but we are thrilled that Ofsted have formally recognised this in such glowing terms."

The report also commended the school’s ICT set-up including the Bridge Academy Online programme, which uses online learning guides so that students can study at home, and a new garden the youngsters have helped design and create.