Abbey Grange Church of England Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 May 2026

Pupils are proud to belong to Abbey Grange. They describe the school as a place where they feel known, welcomed and encouraged to be their best selves. From the moment they arrive, pupils experience warm relationships, clear routines and a culture built on kindness and ambition. They enjoy coming to school because lessons are engaging, staff believe in them and there is always something to get involved in. One pupil, representing the views of many, said that ‘everyone is appreciated for who they are’. This sense of belonging is strengthened by daily acts of care, from greetings at the gate to the calm, purposeful atmosphere in classrooms. Pupils achieve highly. They enjoy learning and take pride in doing their best. They build strong foundations in reading, vocabulary and oracy. Teaching is clear and purposeful, so pupils understand new ideas and talk confidently about how topics connect. Disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities make considerable progress from their starting points. Due to the skilled guidance and support they receive, pupils are very well prepared for their next steps. Pupils enjoy a huge array of experiences that enriches their learning, develops leadership and broadens their horizons. For example, pupils are excited to take part in drama productions such as ‘Joseph’, with older pupils helping younger ones learn choreography. Pupils demonstrate social conscience by leading support for various charities and providing Easter gifts for the local hospital’s children’s ward. Sixth-form students contribute to the wider life of the school through mentoring and community service. Pupils take part in powerful human-rights and anti-prejudice projects, where they explore themes of identity, tolerance and moral courage before teaching these ideas to their peers. Pupils attend school regularly and feel safe. Pupils show high levels of respect to adults and to each other. They show maturity beyond their years and behave impeccably. Bullying is rare and dealt with quickly if it does happen.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should continue to strengthen post-16 provision so that teaching, assessment and outcomes match the high standards seen at key stage 4.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)