The Grey Coat Hospital

Inspection of The Grey Coat Hospital Greycoat Place, London SW1P 2DY

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Sixth-form provision Outstanding Previous inspection grade Outstanding

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

Ofsted has not previously inspected The Grey Coat Hospital under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. However, Ofsted previously judged The Grey Coat Hospital to be outstanding, before it opened as an academy. 4 and 5 October 2022

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What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders have filled the school with a culture of high aspirations. They have established a strong sense of collective identity within which pupils are encouraged to be themselves. Leaders are successful in developing pupils’ character. They encourage their inquisitiveness, resilience, independence, humility and kindness. Pupils strive to demonstrate these values. Pupils’ behaviour is composed and mature. Pupils are safe. Bullying is not tolerated. If it happens, leaders and teachers ensure it stops.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders’ expectations are consistently high for all pupils. Teachers support all pupils effectively to learn the curriculum. In class, pupils’ behaviour and attitudes to learning are very positive. They support each other to try hard, be independent and take calculated risks.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils appreciate the unique range of extra-curricular activities that leaders organise. These include football, choirs and charity fundraising week. Pupils also have access to careers advice and take part in volunteering and visits abroad. Leaders ensure that all pupils have an equal opportunity to take part in all that the school has to offer.

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better?

The school’s curriculum offer is broad and balanced. In Years 7 to 9, the curriculum often exceeds the expectations of the national curriculum. For example, the carefully designed art curriculum enables pupils to produce high-quality work. This supports pupils to excel in Years 10 and 11. All pupils study one modern foreign language at GCSE. A significant proportion of pupils study an additional modern foreign language or an ancient language. The proportion taking the English Baccalaureate is high.

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better?

Leaders have equally high ambitions for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Their needs are identified and pupils with SEND are supported to access the same curriculum as their peers.

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better?

Subject leaders and teachers are subject experts. They have crafted carefully thought-through curriculums. Across all subjects, pupils build knowledge securely. In science, for example, pupils’ understanding of electron theory is explicitly planned to build steadily from Years 7 to 13. Pupils in Year 10 who study German develop their knowledge and recall of reflexive verbs over time, and use them confidently in sentences.

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better?

The curriculum helps pupils to practise and embed knowledge and skills. Teachers routinely check that pupils understand what has been taught. When pupils need a concept to be re-explained, teachers do so. The curriculum enables pupils to progress into the school’s sixth form. The choice of subjects to study in the sixth form is also broad and balanced. Students develop their independence as learners 4 and 5 October 2022

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during Years 12 and 13. Many students continue their education at university at the end of Year 13.

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Pupils are polite, considerate and attentive in class. Learning proceeds without any interruption. They behave sensibly around the school. Leaders encourage a strong culture of tolerance and mutual respect.

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The school provides a very wide range of enrichment activities for pupils. Over 50 clubs run each year. These include opportunities for pupils to develop their interests within and beyond curriculum subjects. Leaders monitor attendance at these clubs and ensure all pupils participate. Sixth-form students appreciate the opportunities provided to develop as young adults, including taking part in debating and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Pupils receive impartial careers and university advice. Pupils’ love of reading is fostered through a range of initiatives and by the school’s well- resourced library. Older pupils support the younger ones to develop reading fluency, for example, by hearing them read each week.

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Staff felt valued and supported by leaders. They said that while leaders’ expectations are high, they are mindful of staff’s workload. School leaders and the governing body continue to drive school improvement and provide staff with relevant professional development.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Teachers and leaders have strong professional relationships with pupils at the school. Safeguarding is at the forefront of teachers’ and leaders’ minds. Staff are aware of local risks, as well as potential risks that may affect pupils who travel to school from afar. All concerns about pupils, however small, are reported to leaders. Appropriate help is provided for pupils who need it. Leaders carefully manage any concerns through established procedures and regular contact with parents and external agencies. The school invites speakers to talk to the pupils about potential risks.

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How can I feed back my views?

or to find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school. 4 and 5 October 2022

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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Further information

In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ refers to those pupils who attract government pupil premium funding: pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years and pupils in care or who left care through adoption or another formal route. 4 and 5 October 2022

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provision

Number of pupils on the school roll 1142

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sixth form

Date of previous inspection 5 March 2009

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Information about this school

 The school is a single academy trust.  The school uses no alternative provision providers.  The last section 48 inspection of this school was on 28 and 29 January 2020.  The school meets the requirements of the Baker Clause, which requires schools to provide pupils in Years 8 to 13 with information about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships. 4 and 5 October 2022

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Information about this inspection

The inspectors carried out this graded inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors held meetings with the headteacher and other senior leaders. Inspectors also met with leaders with responsibility for SEND, careers education, personal, social and health education, behaviour, early reading and pupils’ wider development.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: mathematics, science, history, art, design and technology and modern foreign languages.  For each deep dive, inspectors discussed the curriculum with subject leaders, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.  Inspectors also spoke to leaders about the curriculum in some other subjects.  Inspectors considered the school’s policies and procedures for safeguarding and

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Information about this inspection

supporting pupils’ health and safety as well as their welfare and well-being. This included looking at case studies and reviewing the school’s record of pre- employment checks.  Inspectors met with representatives from the governing body.  Inspectors considered responses to Ofsted’s online surveys for parents, staff and pupils.

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Inspection team

Guy Forbat, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Una Buckley His Majesty’s Inspector 4 and 5 October 2022

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regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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