Bishop Stopford’s School retains ‘Good’ Ofsted, as it celebrates supportive and nurturing culture.

March, 2024

Dear families,

Following our Ofsted inspection in January, 2024, Bishop Stopford’s School, has once again been confirmed as `good’. We have been praised for our high expectations, welcoming and supportive approach, and ambitious curriculum, as we continue to be rated a `good school’.

Our school has been commended for creating a ‘nurturing and harmonious community based on equality’. The school’s vision is to provide an outstanding, inclusive and aspirational education for all its children. With a commitment to highly inclusive education and a belief that everyone can achieve beyond their expectations. Its moto of ‘believe, strive, succeed’ is at the heart of everything the school does. This was noted in the report, with inspectors stating that leaders ‘make sure that pupils at the school are happy and safe’, and that they ‘show determination that pupils can flourish’. This ambition extends to pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Within the report, inspectors also highlighted that ‘the school champions diversity’ and that ‘they have appointed both pupil and staff diversity ambassadors, who organise a range of events throughout the year’. It also emphasised that ‘pupils are proud to represent their school community’ and ‘Sixth-Form students are positive role models for younger pupils and provide support for their peers’.  Other areas of success in the report, includes:

• The school provides all pupils with a broad and balanced curriculum
• Leaders have a strong grasp of how to build pupils’ knowledge progressively over time
• The curriculum is successfully adapted, designed or developed to meet the needs of pupils with SEND
• Teachers support pupils’ knowledge and skills effectively, including through high levels of guidance in lessons
• Reading and pupils’ literacy development are a priority for the school
• Attendance is very well managed and actions taken by the school have resulted in improvements to pupils arriving to school on time. Leaders work constructively with families, pupils and professionals to identify barriers to attending school.
• Pupils have positive attitudes to their learning and concentrate well
• Leaders are keen to ensure that pupils are well prepared for life beyond school; provide pupils with a wide range of activities and clubs; and ensure there are a range of leadership opportunities for pupils.

These efforts have also recently been bolstered by the school’s formal partnership with local not-for-profit foundation co-operative, Enterprise Cooperative Trust – a partnership of like-minded schools, charities, community groups and businesses, which aims to extend life skills and work opportunities for all students in Enfield. 

Our school is underpinned by deep-rooted values of respect, consideration, loyalty, responsibility and success. It is pleasing that Ofsted recognised that our pupils are proud of being here and can flourish in an environment that is supportive and motivational.

We are so proud of the community we have built and I’d like to thank our staff, pupils and families for their ongoing support and dedication. It’s wonderful to see a continued positive outcome in recognition of our strong commitment that every child, regardless of their background, will be championed every step of the way to achieve their very best.

Kind regards,

Mrs Day, BA (Hons)

Headteacher