Lift Bexleyheath

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 April 2026

Pupils enjoy their time at this school. They attend regularly and build very positive relationships with staff. Staff work well together to ensure that pupils, including students in the sixth form, feel welcome and supported. Teachers care about pupils. They get to know them as individuals. Typically, pupils are taught well. Teachers generally adapt their teaching when needed to meet pupils’ needs. Most pupils build a secure body of knowledge and skills across the different subjects that they learn. Disadvantaged pupils achieve well. Some pupils, such as those with high prior attainment, could be doing even better. Pupils arrive at lessons on time and settle down to their work without any fuss. They learn in classrooms that are free from disruption. Pupils are confident that bullying is not accepted. They know that they can reach out to staff for help or guidance should they ever need it. When pupils require additional support, for example pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities or those who need help to catch up, this is provided. The support generally helps pupils to keep up with their peers. Leaders' partnerships with external agencies help to provide any specialist provision that pupils may need. Pupils are kept safe at school. This includes knowing that their teachers will be out and about after school to help look after them. Pupils learn how to take care of themselves, including how to manage the negative impact that social media may have on their wellbeing. The school offers pupils a range of extra-curricular experiences, including after-school clubs and educational trips for each year group. Pupils benefit from a well-rounded education that prepares them well for what happens when the time comes to leave Lift Bexleyheath.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that staff have the expertise to use what they know about pupils to adapt their teaching more effectively to meet pupils’ different needs and enhance pupils' overall outcomes.
• Leaders should ensure that they embed high-quality teaching across the curriculum, including effective use of assessment so that pupils, particularly those with high prior attainment and students in the sixth form, progress well.
• Leaders should enhance their checks on the impact of their work, using their findings to secure sustained improvement.

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