The Cooper School in Bicester has been awarded a rating of ‘Requires Improvement’ following an inspection from Ofsted in November 2022.

The inspection found that many areas of the school were ‘Good’ including Behaviour & Attitudes, Personal Development and Sixth Form.

Safeguarding was judged to be effective.

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The school’s Sixth Form offer was highlighted as a key strength, as were the positive relationships established between teachers and pupils.

Ofsted found that quality of education required improvement, in particular the school’s Key Stage 3 curriculum offer.

Since September the school has been in the middle of a significant change in its Key Stage 3 curriculum, moving from a two-year Key Stage 3 to a broad and ambitious three-year Key Stage 3.

Headteacher Rob Whannel said: “I am of course disappointed with this outcome, which doesn’t fully reflect the hard work of our brilliant staff and students.

“My senior leadership team and I are committed to making changes and relentlessly providing the best possible education for each of our students.

“Prior to the inspection, we had already implemented plans to tackle each of the challenges highlighted by Ofsted - in particular the significant changes we’re making to our Key Stage 3 curriculum.

“We will continue to focus our energy and attention on these areas.

“I was, however, pleased that the report has recognised many of our strengths including recent changes to improve student behaviour and attitudes, and our brilliant Sixth Form which is in the top 10 per cent in the country.”

The inspection report from Ofsted stated that: “Current leaders have laid out clear priorities for school improvement and are on their way to realising their vision.

“With the support of trustees, the capacity of leadership has grown, enabling school leaders to make changes in many areas of the school.

“Leaders have recognised this and have made some changes. For example, they have reinstated a three-year key stage 3 programme based on the national curriculum. Much of this reorganisation is promising.”

“Strong positive relationships between staff and pupils lie at the heart of The Cooper School.”

A spokesperson for Bernwode Schools Trust – the trust that comprises The Cooper School among others – said: “We at the trust, the governors and all of our staff take on board the steps which we need to implement, the majority of which are already happening, to ensure that the quality of our education is recognised to be at least ‘Good’.

“At The Cooper School, where our GCSE results were excellent and our Post 16 provision is first class, we will continue our relentless work to provide the best education for all of our students.”

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1