Bradford free school with music focus gets top Ofsted rating

Dixons Music Primary, in Bradford, opened in 2012 alongside Dixons Trinity – which became the first secondary free school to be rated as outstanding two years ago.

The new Ofsted report rates it as being outstanding in all key inspection areas.

It was previously rated as requiring improvement by the education watchdog – a judgement Dixons Academies Trust disputed at the time.

The school is heavily oversubscribed and currently has 210 reception to year three students, and will grow to its full capacity of 420 in 2018.

Principal Michelle Long said: “We are thrilled to have achieved one of our goals – to be judged outstanding in all areas.

“Our aim now is to secure the very best outcomes for our students so that they succeed at university, thrive in a top job and have a great life.

“To be graded outstanding is a remarkable achievement and a wonderful reward for the hard work and unrelenting commitment of our staff and students.”

Luke Sparkes, the executive principal of Dixons Trinity Academy and Dixons Music Primary, added: “Dixons Music Primary is an innovative and hard-working school which has attracted national attention.

“I am delighted that the achievements of the school have finally been formally recognised.”

He said the announcement also bodes well for the planned Dixons Trinity Harehills, an all-through three to 19 school in Leeds. Dixons plan for the school to open in the city in September 2017 – its first outside of Bradford.

The Dixons Academies chain dates back to the city technology colleges programme started by Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative Government in 1990 – involving business leaders in the running of new state schools.

Dixons City Technology College, in Bradford, became one of the most successful state schools in the city and was one of Yorkshire’s first academies when it converted 11 years ago.