An Oxford school has been rated 'Outstanding' in all categories following an Ofsted inspection at the end of June. 

Pupils and staff at Northern House Academy are celebrating after the school was judged ‘Outstanding’ in its latest Ofsted inspection.

This was the first time the special school in Summertown, which caters for children aged 5 to 11 years with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, had been inspected since it joined The Gallery Trust in 2020.

Before joining the trust, which also runs Iffley Academy, the school had been judged ‘inadequate’.

The inspectors praised the school’s leaders for ‘swiftly’ raising standards and for implementing a ‘highly ambitious curriculum’. 

Ricky Stevens, headteacher, and Rebecca Holmes, head of school at Northern House Academy, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with this report which demonstrates how far the school has come in recent years.

We are fortunate to have a fantastic team of staff here who have worked tirelessly to raise standards and give our pupils the very best education.  This report is testament to their hard work and commitment and we would like to thank them for helping us achieve this formidable judgement.’

Kay Willett MBE, chief executive of The Gallery Trust, said: "This report is thoroughly deserved by the entire Northern House community and I congratulate them on this superb achievement.

"When the school joined The Gallery Trust four years ago, we were determined to transform standards.  

"We began by putting the pupils at the heart of everything we did.  We took the time to understand the pupils and how they learn and introduced strategies aimed at improving their self esteem, making them feel valued and inspiring them to aim high.  

"The result is clear for everyone to see and, as the inspectors have rightly found, pupils are now safe, happy and able to flourish here."