Schools in the Kingswood area celebrate high achievements

Sir Bernard Lovell School, part of the nationally acclaimed Kingswood Partnership, has just announced that it has received an outstanding Ofsted report.

And Hanham High School  has been named one of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust's top five most improved schools in the south west.

Inspectors said that SBL at Oldland Common had made "exceptional improvements" since the previous inspection, with students' achievements improving substantially.

SBL, which is also a training school for new teachers, has 1,227 pupils and has been a specialist languages school since 1996.  It is part of the Kingswood Partnership, a national flagship for education, offering more than 120 high quality courses for 14- to 19-year-olds in specialist secondary schools in the Kingswood area and at the Beacon Award-winning City of Bristol College. Many pupils travel between the schools in the partnership for their lessons.

The inspectors said of SBL: "Over the last two years the school has developed an innovative and outstanding curriculum through the Kingswood Partnership."

Overall they rated teaching as good, with some outstanding practice, and the vast majority of pupils told the inspection team they they enjoyed their learning, knew how well they were doing and what they needed to do to improve.

The report added: "Students speak very positively about the very high quality care, guidance and support they receive."

Ofsted said that the school's international links had a significant impact on students' understanding of other cultures. Its links with more than 300 local businesses and with other educational institutitions, locally, nationally and internationally, are also praised.

Headteacher David Turrell said:  "The report recognises the dedication and commitment of the staff and the school's continued ability to improve. We are pleased with the achievements but are acutely aware that we still have much to do."

Meanwhile Hanham High headteacher Peggy Farrington said that news that the performing arts college was one of the five most improved schools in the south west had come as "a wonderful surprise" and was a real tribute to everyone's hard work.

Hanham High is one of the other schools in the Kingswood Partnership. The others are Mangotsfield, a specialist college in engineering and science, The Grange School School & Sports College, and Downend School, which is a technology college.

Meanwhile the notice to improve that was served on Kingsfield School by Ofsted a year ago has now been lifted. At the time Ofsted said the school was inadequate but now it is deemed to be satisfactory and improving. Inspectors found most lessons to be good or outstanding

The school will become the fifth academy in the Cabot Learning Federation in September.