OFSTED
Balcarras has received an 'outstanding' judgement in each of its last 4 OFSTED inspections going back to 2005.
Our last full inspection was in March 2025.
From 2024, schools are no longer given an overall grading but continue to be graded in each of the five separate judgement areas. Balcarras received the following judgements:
The quality of education Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding
Personal development Outstanding
Leadership and management Outstanding
Sixth-form provision Outstanding
The report is available below.
Here are a few choice quotes:
“A positive and inclusive school community”
We were delighted that the inspectors started their report with the following sentence: “Pupils and staff have huge pride in their school.” The report states that the school, “has the highest expectations for all pupils, both for their academic achievement and to be part of a positive and inclusive school community”
We are proud that OFSTED recognised this because it really is at the heart of what we are trying to achieve.
“The house and sixth form teams provide exemplary pastoral care”
Strong pastoral care is the foundation stone for any school. The inspectors found a happy and safe school and commented on the “exemplary” pastoral care which is given to pupils. We were delighted that the inspectors praised the culture of respect in the school. They said that “pupils are highly courteous and respectful, towards one another, and with staff and visitors”.
“Pupils and students immerse themselves in the life of the school”
The inspection team were hugely impressed by just how involved pupils were in the life of the school. They praised Balcarras for offering a “plethora of events and clubs”. We have always said that we want school to be fun. A key way to develop that sense of enjoyment is to ensure, not just that lessons are engaging and lively, but that there are lots of opportunities for pupils to engage in extra curricular activity.
“The school is meticulous in its design of the curriculum”
We have long been advocates for a broad and varied curriculum which has plenty of room for creativity and difference. As a group of educators we also pride ourselves that we are constantly striving to improve our teaching. The inspectors said that “pupils learn the precise knowledge and skills that support them as they move on to new learning.” Teaching is both an art and a science and we enjoyed several interesting discussions around this as the inspection unfolded. The inspectors were fulsome in their praise for the quality of teaching in the school.
“In lessons, pupils work hard and interact positively with their learning”
We are delighted that the inspectors picked up just how hard our pupils work. They really are hugely committed to their studies and that in a large part explains the success they achieve. The inspectors also felt strongly that pupils across the prior attainment range, and those with SEND, were supported very well so that, “all pupils learn the ambitious content of the curriculum.”
“The personal development programme meticulously embeds experiences throughout the curriculum to prepare pupils for life beyond the school”
We are proud of our personal development provision and it was pleasing that the inspectors judged that it was holistic and embedded right throughout the school. They also praised our provision for careers saying that it is “skilfully” integrated across the curriculum.
Please find copies of our last three inspections (2025, 2014 and 2009) below.