'Inspiring' JCoSS achieves its best Ofsted report

The inspectors’ verdict “allows us to be more than satisfied that JCoSS was seen, valued and understood as the wonderful school it is”.

Describing the cross-communal school as “ambitious, supportive and inspiring”, inspectors said that leaders had embedded an “ethos that promotes tolerance and inclusion".

Careful thought went into how develop each child individually and teachers considered how to enrich the curriculum in all subjects.

“Pupils achieve highly and become confident and committed learners,” Ofsted reported. “They are encouraged to develop their own identity while learning to understand and celebrate that of others.”

Pupils behaved well with “very little time” lost to poor behaviour. They showed kindness and respect to others, whom they treated as equals.

“Rare occasions” of bullying were effectively dealt with and pastoral systems had been set up to help identify “where attendance or behaviour may indicate concerns about a pupil”.

Its sixth form “provides strong pastoral support and a highly ambitious offer”. Leaders ensure “ensure that a wide range of choices are on offer, even if group sizes are small”.

"When pupils have to make choices about their futures, they receive strong support," the inspection report said. "Careers education is carefully targeted to ensure that pupils learn about a range of options."

Inspectors had little criticism other than to say that in “a few instances”  leaders had not made sure their expectations were followed by all staff and this had led to inconsistencies in how pupils’ knowledge deepened over time.