Maidenhead headteacher 'could not be prouder' after retaining outstanding Ofsted

Ofsted has said ‘pupils thrive’ at the ‘exceptional’ Newlands Girls’ School – which has retained its outstanding rating.

The education watchdog undertook a two-day inspection in May and confirmed the school would retain its top grade in a report published this week.

Jo Capon said she ‘could not be prouder’ to be headteacher and said there was ‘so much to celebrate’.

She added: “There are many things which make Newlands a special school, and Teal, our wellbeing dog, is certainly one of them.

“Our report highlights the things that really matter to me as a head: our inclusive caring community, the celebration of diversity and difference, the pride the students and indeed staff and parents) take in Newlands and, above all, the fact the students can be who they are here.

“Academic success is important of course, but our values, our ethos of kindness and the fact that we listen to the students who enact change matter to me just as much.”

Inspectors said parents are ‘overwhelmingly positive about the school’ and reported: “One parent reflected the views of many when saying ‘Newlands has been an outstanding choice of school for my daughter and I would recommend it to any parents without hesitation.’”

Ofsted said pupils ‘look out for another’ through sixth-form mentorship and ‘display consistently positive attitudes to their learning’.

The report said: “High expectations of pupils’ behaviour, both in and outside of the classroom, are consistently upheld.

“The knowledge that pupils should learn has been meticulously planned.

“Teachers have the expertise and training required to deliver the curriculum in a highly effective fashion.”

Jo said the ‘brilliant’ leadership team and ‘dedicated’ teaching and support staff have worked ‘incredibly hard’ over the past two years to take Newlands ‘to the next level’.

She explained that the last Ofsted inspection in 2018 was conducted under an old framework which ‘substantially’ changed in 2019 with ‘tougher’ measures.

“We are thrilled with the judgement, but as with all school inspections, this was and is a tough process for everyone involved and in just two days, it is hard for schools to properly showcase who they are and all they have to offer; I know things can be missed,” she said.

Jo said schools ‘feel let down by the process’ and she will be ‘campaigning for change in the future’.

“This result is down to my entire team and the whole community who work so hard on a daily basis to achieve incredible things,” Jo added.

“I am thrilled with this report but none of what we do is for Ofsted. I want to say a huge well done to the staff and students at Newlands.

“You are all brilliant and you make me proud to be your headteacher every single day.”