We are delighted to announce that Bromley High School has been awarded the top grade achievable ‘excellent’ in all areas following our recent Independent Schools Inspectorate’s (ISI) Inspection.
The inspection team observed over 100 lessons and interviewed pupils and staff on areas including academic progress and attainment, safeguarding and health and safety. Parents, pupils and staff were also surveyed over the three-day visit.
“These are the highest outcomes that an independent school can achieve, and I am incredibly proud of the whole school community,” said Headmistress Mrs Emily Codling. “The inspection process was deeply rigorous, profoundly professional and highly supportive, giving us affirmation that the vision we have for the school will continue to develop our excellent provision even further.”
“Throughout the inspection it was clear that the team could articulate our aims and values from their observations across the school. We were humbled to hear how fulsome parents, staff and pupils praised Bromley High School and thrilled to receive such positive feedback.”
“I would like to thank everyone in our community for their encouragement throughout the process. I look forward to our continued endeavours as we implement our Towards 140 and Beyond strategy together.”
Key highlights from the ISI report
The quality of the pupils academic and other achievements is ‘excellent’:
- Pupils reach excellent levels of attainment in lessons and external examinations.
- Pupils demonstrate extensive knowledge and understanding across all subjects.
- Pupils develop excellent numeracy skills, and confidently apply these in a range of lessons, demonstrating a deep understanding of core principles.
- Pupils develop highly positive attitudes to learning and independent study.
- The extensive range of activities enables pupils to develop their skills and talents extremely well and to unlock their enthusiasm.
- Pupils display highly developed study skills.
- Participation in sport is valued as much as success.
- Pupils in the junior school enjoy the leadership and coaching provided by pupils from the Senior School.
- Regular assessment and careful monitoring of performance by senior leaders promote these high levels of attainment and progress.
- Highly effective teaching enables the excellent acquisition of knowledge and skills, and promotes a deepening of understanding.
- Pupils are keen to make progress and their overwhelmingly strong attitude towards their learning is a key factor in assuring their success.
- Inspectors found a pervasive atmosphere of endeavour and enjoyment of learning in the range of lessons and activities observed.
- Pupils throughout the school relish the opportunities to discuss and debate in lessons; they are first-class listeners and respond in a considered, informed and highly effective manner to their teachers’ questions and to each other.
The quality of the personal development is ‘excellent’:
- Pupils demonstrate excellent self-confidence, self-knowledge and self-understanding, both as learners and as individuals in society.
- Pupils understand the importance of learning from missteps.
- Pupils’ social development is excellent. They collaborate enthusiastically in sport, music and drama.
- Pupils are kind and respectful of each other. They value the racial and ethnic diversity within the school, show respect for neurodiversity and appreciate their own and other cultures.
- High expectations established by teachers encourages pupil responsibility.
- Pupil collaboration is strengthened by the careful planning of lessons by teachers which create appropriate opportunities for group work to help further understanding and develop pupil relationships and confidence.
- Pupils’ mental health is supported by the school counsellor and nurse, but principally by the kindness that underpins strong and warm relationships between pupils and their teachers and a school culture based on kindness and decency towards each other.
- Pupils speak enthusiastically about being allowed to be themselves.
- They are enthusiastic to exploit the many opportunities the school provides for leadership.
- Pupils make assured and effective choices because they are consistently encouraged and supported to do so.
- Pupils display a well-developed spiritual understanding and deep appreciation of the importance of the non-material aspects of life.
- Pupils are actively involved in charitable giving and fundraising.
- The views of pupils are taken seriously by the school’s leadership team.
- A strong local school governing body, supported by the Girls’ Day School Trust, provides appropriate challenge and support to school leaders and together they have had the vision to provide the infrastructure and systems which underpin excellent outcomes for pupils.