Academy shows way after earning top Ofsted rating

Outwood Grange Academy, in Wakefield, was given an overall rank of outstanding in its latest report. It also received the outstanding grade – the highest of four which Ofsted awards – in each of the four main inspection areas: pupil achievement, quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils and leadership and management.

The report said: “Outwood Grange Academy provides an outstanding quality of education. The very large majority of parents and carers who returned an inspection questionnaire would recommend the academy to others. Students’ achievement is outstanding. When students enter the academy, their standards of attainment are above average. All groups of students make progress at a better than expected rate and attain very high standards by the end of key stage four (their GCSE year).”

The report praises the school’s sixth form as outstanding and says the “overwhelming majority” of students are successful in going on to education, employment or training. Outstanding teaching is said to be at the root of students’ achievements while the work of its leaders is driving the success, according to inspectors.

Outwood Grange Academies Trust’s chief executive and academy principal Michael Wilkins said: “I would like to say a huge well done to students for their achievements, they can be proud that they have played an integral part in ensuring this academy remains one of the top performing schools in the country.

“Outwood Grange Academy is very fortunate to have such talented leaders at all levels and an expert team of teaching staff; without their dedication this would not have been possible. Our Ofsted result reinforces our approach to education and reiterates our core value, students first.”

Last year, the Yorkshire Post revealed Mr Wilkins’ services had cost the taxpayer more than £1m over four years. The majority of the money went to him personally through either his salary or payments made to his consultancy for improvement work he carried out at other schools supported by Outwood Grange.