A positive attitude to learning and an ambitious curriculum has been praised at a Brightlingsea secondary school following a recent Ofsted inspection.
Colne Community School and College is celebrating after being awarded an overall Good rating and achieving the same standard across all Ofsted’s main headings – quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.
Neil Gallagher, Executive Headteacher at the school, said: “This report is testament to the hard work and dedication of our highly talented staff – their work has been relentless and this report is a reflection of that.
“I am incredibly proud of our Colne community, and all the staff and students, and I am confident that the school will continue to improve, providing an exceptional Colne education as a foundation for our students’ futures.”
Highlights in the report included the fact that pupils develop positive attitudes to learning and are respectful to each other and to adults.
They also noted that the “dedication and determination” of school and Sigma Trust leaders meant “pupils get the good school they deserve.”
Inspectors wrote: “Pupils value the key messages and topics taught to them through the personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education curriculum, assemblies and tutorial time. A well-planned careers curriculum shows pupils the range of ambitious opportunities available to them. Consequently, pupils are well prepared for their next steps.
“The school’s pastoral provision is an important part of school life. A range of counselling and mental health support is available for pupils if they find school life challenging. This helps pupils to build their resilience and remain in school.”
The number of clubs and trips for pupils continues to grow at the school on Church Road, with the report noting that they are “returning to pre-pandemic levels” and adding: “Pupils are proud of the opportunities they experience to become leaders or help others by, for example, acting as peer mentors, mental health champions or supporting others with their reading.”
Effective safeguarding and PSHE curriculum were also praised following the two-day inspection which took place at the end of June.
