Gosford Hill School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 17 March 2026

Most pupils look forward to coming to school each day. They value the caring relationships that they have with peers and staff. Most pupils proudly demonstrate the high expectations of the school. Pupils respond positively to the school’s work to raise expectations further and to the celebration of their achievements. The school’s expectations for the behaviour and respectful conduct of pupils are high. A minority of pupils do not behave as well as they should. A few use derogatory language or cause others to worry about bullying behaviours. Although incidents of poor behaviour have reduced over time, pupils' behaviour during social times is not as positive as leaders would like. Too many pupils do not attend school often enough, including pupils with vulnerabilities. The school has developed a range of innovative support to help pupils and families recognise the importance of high attendance. This work is at an early stage of implementation. Pupils appreciate the wide range of lunchtime activities that the school plans, and how the school helps them to pursue their interests. For example, many pupils attend popular lunchtime chess and games in the library. Pupils enjoy their learning. In lessons, behaviour is calm. Consistency in the way teachers structure lessons helps pupils to take an active part in their learning. Pupils with barriers to their education are well supported. Staff make appropriate adaptations to enhance how well pupils learn. Pupils are well prepared for their next steps. They receive guidance to understand their future options. Leaders empower sixth-form students to make well-considered choices for their next steps. Students are knowledgeable about different pathways once they leave school. They have a range of exciting plans, which they are eager to pursue.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that pupils' attendance improves so that pupils maximise their opportunities for learning and benefit from the school’s wider opportunities.
• Leaders should ensure that they provide effective behavioural support to those pupils who need it, including those who face barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing.
• Leaders should carefully check that all aspects of the curriculum support pupils to achieve highly across all subjects and prepare them extremely well for their next steps.

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