OFSTED, the government’s Office for Standards in Education, recently judged St Mark’s School in Bath as ‘Good’. This follows on from a SIAMS inspection in December 2021 where the school was judged to be a ‘Good’ Church of England school. This was the school’s first OFSTED inspection since it joined the Midsomer Norton Schools’ Partnership (MNSP).
The grades awarded at the end of the inspection were as follows:
Overall Effectiveness: ‘Good’
The Quality of Education: ‘Good’
Behaviour and Attitudes: ‘Good’
Personal Development: ‘Good’
Leadership and Management: ‘Good’
Among the positive comments that OFSTED made about the school in its report, were –
‘Pupils are proud to be part of the school community.’
‘The school is ambitious for all of its students.’
‘The school has an ambitious curriculum.’
‘The behaviour of pupils is a strength of the school.’
‘Pupils are well prepared for the next stage.‘
‘The school is a place where people can be themselves and can develop their own unique talents.‘
“The inspectors described St Mark’s as a “Lovely school,” but unfortunately this is not generally used as an OFSTED category and so doesn’t appear in the report!” said Headteacher Barnaby Ash.
“The really positive report is a testimony to the amazing staff team at St Mark’s and members of the school’s local governing board. All of them have contributed to this fine inspection report. Of course, a massive thank you and well done to our students who shone during the inspection, demonstrating again what an asset they are to the school. The Lead inspector felt strongly that, ‘Students love the school’… that’s high praise indeed!
“Everybody associated with the school is committed to moving St Mark’s beyond ‘Good’ and will continue on our journey towards making St Mark’s a great school.”