Historic Bristol school loses ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating over pupils’ learning concerns

Bristol Cathedral Choir School has lost its ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating after the education watchdog raised concerns over gaps in pupils’ learning.

The choir school was just one of three secondary schools to have an Outstanding rating, which it earned in 2016, but has been downgraded to ‘good’ following an inspection across November 29 - 30. Inspectors rate the school based on a series of categories; the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.

Ratings range from oustanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate. Bristol Cathedral Choir School scored ‘good’ ratings in all its categories and ‘outstanding’ in Sixth-form provision. In 2021, a section five inspection was carried out - a shorter inspection carried out on good or outstanding establishments to determine if they continue to uphold this standard of teaching.

In the section five inspection, the school was warned it may lose its ‘oustanding’ rating with concerns raised over its provisions for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The most recent report, published on February 1, praises the school for its SEND provisions, stating: “Staff work tirelessly to ensure every pupil understands the curriculum. They successfully include pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and disadvantaged pupils. Consequently, many pupils enter the sixth form.”

However, the report also determined that “Sometimes, teachers and subject leaders do not check pupils’ learning thoroughly enough. As a result, some pupils continue to make errors or do not complete work. Subject leaders need to ensure that checks on learning consistently help pupils to learn more and improve the accuracy of their work.”

The two remaining secondary schools in Bristol to hold an Outstanding rating are Redland Green School and St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School. Bristol Cathedral Choir School has been approached for comment.