Dear Parents and Carers,

I am delighted to write to you with the news that I can now share the findings from the Ofsted visit to The Minster School in November. The published report is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and exceptional commitment of our students, staff, and the entire school community.

Following a robust, two-day inspection to assess every element of school life, I am pleased to announce that The Minster School has been rated as 'Good' overall, with 'Outstanding' judgements in both Personal Development and Sixth Form Provision. This achievement is a reflection of our collective efforts to provide an enriching and supportive educational environment for your children. 

The school’s last inspection took place more than thirteen years ago when the Ofsted inspection process and criteria were very different to those conducted today. Given the significant changes in the Ofsted inspection framework, the areas and the way judgements are reached are quite different and more challenging than inspections that took place many years ago. The school is therefore incredibly proud of the outcomes under a much more rigorous inspection framework.

The report highlights several commendable aspects of our school, including the following key quotes:

- "Staff have high expectations of what pupils can learn and achieve. Pupils learn well and achieve highly. They apply themselves well. They take their learning seriously. They take pride in their work and successes."

- "Pupils are safe. They know who to turn to if they have any worries. Pastoral care is very strong."

- "Junior department pupils get off to a great start."

- "Sixth-form students benefit from exceptional provision."

- "The school is very well led and managed. Leaders lead with a strong moral purpose. They have high expectations of pupils’ learning, attitudes and behaviour."

- "Leaders have developed an ambitious curriculum that is broad and deep in its range of subjects across Years 3 to 13."

- "Teachers are experts in the subjects that they teach."

- "Opportunities to deepen pupils’ spiritual and moral development are exceptional."

These quotes encapsulate the essence of The Minster School's commitment to fostering a learning environment where our students thrive academically, emotionally, and socially. The report acknowledges the exceptional work of our staff, the dedication of our students, and the supportive community that contributes to the success of our school.

Moreover, the Ofsted report recognised the considerable improvements in SEND provision over the past year. While celebrating this progress, the report challenges us to continue refining our support to "ensure that these pupils’ needs are fully identified and that provision enables all pupils with SEND to gain the very best learning possible."

We are eager to take on this challenge and further enhance our efforts to meet the diverse needs of all our students.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to each member of our school community - students, parents, and staff - for their unwavering support and commitment. It is through this collaborative spirit that we continue to achieve excellence and provide the best possible education for our students. I would urge you to read the report in full, which you can find below.

Once again, congratulations to everyone on this fantastic achievement. I am confident that with our shared commitment, The Minster School will continue to flourish and provide an exceptional educational experience for all.

Yours sincerely,

Ben Chaloner - Head Teacher