FOLLOWING a two-day ungraded Ofsted inspection of Ilkley Grammar School in January 2023, Ofsted have now released publication of the final report.

As an ungraded inspection, this did not result in any individual graded judgements and did not change the school’s overall effectiveness grade which remains Outstanding.

The small team of inspectors praised many aspects of the school’s provision and found that:

• “Pupils at Ilkley Grammar School have high levels of respect for each other and their teachers. Relationships between teachers and pupils are warm and caring… Bullying is rare.”

• “Leaders at all levels plan an ambitious curriculum.”

• “The school is inclusive.”

• “All pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), access an ambitious curriculum.”

• “Behaviour in lessons is calm and purposeful” and “low-level disruption is rare.”

• “The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”

• “Pupils can access a wide range of ‘ iLeader’ opportunities …This helps pupils to develop independence and broadens their understanding of the rich curriculum.”

• “Staff speak incredibly positively about the work of leaders. They feel a strong sense of community.”

Although the report testifies to a positive, respectful and inclusive community in which “pupils understand and celebrate diversity”, inspectors concluded that some students’ knowledge of different faiths and religions was not fully developed. On this basis, they have concluded that the school’s next inspection should be a full graded one within the next two years.

Headteacher, Carly Purnell, said: “We are very proud of the quality of education and academic and pastoral support which is on offer at IGS and are pleased that Ofsted’s visit in January recognised the school’s many strengths. As the report evidences, the school has a positive, respectful, safe and inclusive culture built on strong and trusting relationships between staff and students, a rich and ambitious curriculum, provides students with extensive leadership and extra-curricular opportunities and prioritises students’ mental health and wellbeing with over one-third of staff being mental health first aid trained. As a result, students achieve their ‘personal best’ and ‘grow in wisdom and stature’.

“Whilst we are disappointed that the small inspection team, which comprised of one inspector on the second day, did not have the capacity to robustly follow up their line of enquiry around knowledge of faith and religion and were only able to speak to less than 2% of our students, we look forward to a full graded inspection in 1-2 years’ time, when the inspection team should be more proportionate to the size of the school.

"Although IGS has never been driven by Ofsted, we will continue to move the school forward and will look to further strengthen our provision for the benefit of our students on the back of this ungraded inspection and last year’s record A-Level and GCSE results.”